LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Class 


OF1    THE 


,  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 

From  the  commencement  to  the  disbanding  of  the 

AMERICAN  ARMY! 

Comprising  a  detailed  account  of  the  principal  events  and 

BATTLES  OF  THE  REVOLUTION, 

WITH  THEIR  EXACT  DATES, 

And  a  Biographical  Sketch  of  the  most  Prominent  Generals,' 

BY  JAMES  TEACHER,  M,  D,, 

Surgeon  in  the  American  Revolutionary  Array. 

TO   WHICH   IS  ADDED   THE 

LIFE   OF   •WASHINGTON', 

HIS   FAREWELL    ADDRESS,    THE    DECLARATION    OF    INDEPENDENCE 
AND   THE   CONSTITUTION   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES. 


PUBLISHED    BY    SUBSCRIPTION    ONLY   BY 

HURLBUT,  WILLIAMS  &  COMPANY, 

AMERICAN  SUBSCRIPTION  PUBLISHING  HOUSE, 

gartforb,  (Conn.,  1862. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1861, 

BY  IIURLBUT,   WILLIAMS  &  CO., 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


R.  II.  HOBBB,  STKREOTYPKR."  *     WuTlASlwiYKY  AND  TURNER,  PRISTKRF 


PREFACE. 


" HISTORY,"  says  a  late  elegant  writer,  "presents  no 
struggle  for  liberty  which  has  in  it  more  of  the  moral 
sublime  than  that  of  the  American  Revolution.  It  has 
been  of  late  years  too  much  forgotten  in  the  sharp  conten 
tions  of  party ;  and  he  who  endeavors  to  withdraw  the 
public  mind  from  the  debasing  conflicts,  and  to. fix  it  on 
the  grandeur  of  that  epoch,  which,  magnificent  in  itself, 
begins  now  to  wear  the  solemn  livery  of  antiquity,  as  it  is 
viewed  through  the  deepening  twilight  of  more  than  half  a 
century,  certainly  performs  a  meritorious  service,  and  can 
scarcely  need  justification." 

The  American  Revolution,  conducted,  as  it  was,  by  a 
band  of  brave  and  heroic  spirits,  animated  by  the  highest 
and  noblest  motives,  should  never  be  forgotten.  The  peace 
ful  possession  of  the  rich  inheritance  they  bequeathed  to 
posterity,  obtained  at  so  much  sacrifice,  should  enshrine 
their  memory  in  the  heart  of  every  free  citizen  ;  and  cause 
the  story  of  their  deeds  to  be  perused  with  new  and  ever 
increasing  interest. 

What  can  be  better  calculated  to  stir  the  mighty  pulsa 
tions  of  a  nation's  heart,  and  fill  it  with  patriotic  enthusi 
asm,  than  the  recital  of  those  glorious  achievements  of 
gallant  spirits,  upon  our  own  soil,  for  the  priceless  legacy 
of  Liberty  and  Freedom  ? 

And  who  can  better  bring  before  us  the  events  and  trans 
actions  of  that  important  period, — that  memorable  struggle, 
than  one  who  daily  witnessed  its  thrilling  scenes,  and 
made  with  an  impartial  hand  their  daily  record  ? 


PREFACE. 

The  narrations  in  this  "Journal"  are  invested,  with 
peculiar  interest,  from  the  fact  that  its  author  himself  min 
gled  in  the  varied  scenes  of  the  Revolution,  observed  the 
different  phases  of  military  life  ;  was  personally  acquainted 
with  the  characters  he  presents;  and  therefore  gives  us 
the  truthful  results  of  his  own  observation,  greatly  height 
ened  in  beauty  and  interest,  by  the  attractive  style  which 
he  employs,  and  the  ease  and  grace  with  which  he  presents 
them.  It  is  richly  interspersed  with  sentiment,  enlivened 
by  anecdote,  and  abounds  in  rare  and  valuable  information, 
such  as  can  not  fail  of  being  regarded  by  every  one  who 
has  a  heart  to  appreciate  the  glorious  privileges  of  this 
our  dear-bought  heritage. 

Let  one  apply  himself  to  the  perusal  of  these  deeply 
interesting  pages,  and  the  love  of  liberty  will  grow  stronger 
in  his  heart,  and  on  its  altar  the  fires  of  patriotism  will 
grow  brighter  and  purer ! 

Let  him  look  at  the  illustrious  characters  who  played 
their  part  so  effectually  on  the  broad  theatre  of  the  Rev 
olution,  as  they  are  here  portrayed,  and  learn  what  mighty 
results,  holy  purpose,  coupled  with  invincible. energy,  can 
work  out. 

Let  him  peruse  these  "Annals"  of  the  ever  memorable 
contest,  with  devout  admiration,  and  sincere  gratitude  to 
those  heroic  men,  who,  under  providence,  wrought  the 
sublime  achievement  of  our  "  National  Independence,"  and 
think, 

"  It  is  to  the  virtues  of  such  souls,  man  owes 
His  portion  in  the  good  that  Heaven  bestows." 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

PREFACE, 5 

Causes  which  led  to  the  War, 7 

Whig  and  Tory, 9 

Parliament  impose  a  Duty  on  Tea — a  Cargo  destroyed  in  Boston, 10 

British  Troops  arrive  in  Boston — Gen.  Gage  appointed  governor  and  commander,....  10 

Courts  of  Justice  interrupted  by  the  People, 11 

The  Otis  Family, 11 

Colonel  Nesbit  Tars  and  Feathers  a  Countryman, 12 

Intelligence  received  of  the  Battle  at  Lexington, 13 

Companies  of  Minute-men  formed, 14 

Lexington  Battle  described, 14 

Origin  of  the  term  Yankee, 15 

Provincial  Congress  address  the  People, 16 

Zeal  and  Military  Ardor  pervade  New  England, 10 

Town  of  Boston  invested, 17 

The  British  practice  the  Maxim,  "Divide  and  Conquer" — we  enjoin,  "Unite  and  be 

Invincible," 17 

Liberty-poles  erected  and  Tories  disciplined, 18 

New  England  Clergy  advocate  Whig  Principle?, 19 

General  Gage's  Proclamation,  declaring  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  to  be  in  a  state 

of  Rebellion, 19 

Attempts  to  Dissuade  the  Author  from  engaging  in  the  Army, 20 

The  Author  repairs  to  the  Provincial  Congress — offers  himself  a  Candidate  for  Office,. .  21 

Visits  the  Forefathers'  Rock  at  Plymouth, 22 

Battle  on  Breed's  hill— General  Warren  slain, 22 

Result  of  the  Battle, 27 

The  Author  passes  a  Medical  Examination— is  appointed  to  the  Hospital  Department,  28 

General  Washington  appointed  Commander-in-Chief— arrives  at  Cambridge, 29 

Generals  Lee  and  Gates  arrive  at  Cambridge, 29 

A  View  of  General  Washington, 30 

Cannonade  from  our  Works  and  from  the  Enemy, 30 

Congress  issue  Paper  Money, 31 

Riflemen  arrive  at  Camp— their  Expert  Shooting, 31 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church  detected  in  a  Treacherous  Correspondence  with  the  Enemy,....  31 

General  Gage  sails  for  England, 32 

General  Howe  prohibits  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston  leaving  the  town, 32 

Their  Distressed  Situation, 32 

State  of  our  Military  Hospitals, 33 

Captain  Manley  takes  a  Valuable  Prize, 33 

Destitute  Condition  of  the  Troops  and  Inhabitants  in  Boston, 34 

Connecticut  Troops  quit  Camp,  and  the  Militia  arrive, 34 

Americans  occupy  Lechraere's  Point — Cannonade  on  both  sides, 35 

Critical  Situation  of  our  Army,. . . , 35 

Death  of  General  Montgomery, 35 

Major  Knowlton  burns  several  Houses  in  Charlestown, 36 


Vlii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Anecdote  of  British  Officers, 36 

British  Officers  alarmed  while  at  the  Theatre, 37 

The  Author  joins  Colonel  W.'s  Regiment,  37 

Preparations  for  a  Battle, 37 

Our  Army  take  possession  of  Dorchester  Heights, 33 

General  Howe  sends  out  a  Flag,  proposing  to  evacuate  the  town  of  Boston, 40 

Boston  evacuated, 41 

Our  Troops  march  into  Boston, 41 

View  of  the  Old  South  Church, 42 

Dr.  Elliot  preaches  a  Thanksgiving  Sermon, 43 

Funeral  Solemnities  of  the  late  General  Warren, 43 

British  Ships  driven  from  Nantasket, 44 

Prizes  taken  with  Colonel  Campbell,  &c ,  44 

Deplorable  Situation  of  our  Army  in  Canada, 45 

Death  of  General  Thomas — his  Character, 43 

Independence  declared  by  Congress, 45 

Anecdote  of  Mr.  H.  and  Mr.  G 48 

British  attack  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 48 

Parliament  hire  Foreign  Troops, 49 

The  two  Howes  appointed  Commissioners, 49 

Letter  from  the  Commissioners  to  General  Washington  not  properly  directed— refused,  50 

Colonel  Patterson  has  an  Interview  with  Washington, 50 

Colonel  Whitcomb's  Regiment  march  to  Ticonderoga, 51 

Bite  of  a  Rattle-snake, 52 

Horrid  Plot  discovered  at  New  York, 53 

Treachery  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Zedwit/, 54 

Battle  on  Long  Island, 54 

Our  Retreat  from  New  York, 55 

Lord  Howe  desires  an  Interview  with  some  Members  of  Congress, 56 

Result  of  the  Interview, 57 

Destructive  Fire  in  New  York, 57 

General  Washington  in  Danger, 58 

Remarkable  Escape  of  Part  of  our  Army, 58 

Formation  of  our  Army, , 59 

Pay  and  Rations, CO 

Ticonderoga  described, 61 

American  Torpedo, 02 

Naval  Action  on  Lake  Cham  plain, 63 

The  Enemy  retire  into  Canada, 05 

The  British  take  possession  of  Newport, 66 

Forts  Washington  and  Lee  taken  by  the  Enemy, 66 

General  Lee  taken — Gloomy  Aspect  of  Affairs, 66 

Proclamation  of  Commissioners, 67      / 

Riot  in  Camp, 69  v 

Capture  of  Hessians  at  Trenton, 69 

Ravages  of  the  British  in  Jersey, 71 

Washington's  Victory  at  Princeton, 71 

The  Enemy  driven  from  Jersey, 72 

Wa-hington's  Proclamation, 73 

Spy  executed, 73 

Rigorous  Treatment  of  General  Lee, 73 

Retaliation  resorted  to, 74 

Cruel  Treatment  of  our  Prisoners, 75 

Outrageous  Conduct  of  the  Enemy, 77 

Stores  at  Peekskill  destroyed, 78 

Stores  at  Danbury  destroyed, 78 

British  Plan  for  the  Campaign, 79 


CONTENTS.  ix 

FADE 

j,  Romantic  View, 80 

Burgoyne's  Bombastic  Proclamation, 81 

British  Army  approaches  Ticonderoga, 82 

Ticonderoga  evacuated, 82 

Retreat  of  General  St.  Clair,  and  Battle  at  Hubbertown  and  at  Fort  Anne, 84 

General  Prescott  taken  at  Newport, 80 

General  Washington's  Manifesto, 87 

Fort  Stanwix  invested, £3 

City  of  Albany  described, 90 

General- Schuyler  retreats  from  Fort  Edward  to  Stillvvater, 91 

Brave  Conduct  of  Major  Hull, 91 

Burgoyne-  despatches  Colonel  Baum  on  an  Expedition  to  Bennington, 91 

His  Curious  Instructions, 91 

He  is  attacked  and  defeated  by  General  Stark, 92 

Affecting  Anecdote, 94 

Major-General  Gates  supersedes  General  Schuyler,  and  issues  a  Proclamation, 94 

Milrder  of  Miss  Jenny  McCreu, 95 

General  Gates  complains  to  General  Burgoyne  of  Cruel  Murders — Burgoyne's  Reply,  95 

General  Gates  advances  to  offer  Battle, 96 

Battle  of  the  19th  of  September, 97 

General  Lincoln  detaches  Colonel  Brown  to  Fort  George, 99 

Nathan  Palmer,  a  Spy,  executed, 99 

Expedition  of  the  Enemy  up  the  North  river, 100 

Battle  of  the  7th  of  October, 101 

British  General  Frazer  slain— General  Arnold  wounded, 102 

General  Lincoln  wounded, 103 

Remarkable  Escape  of  part  of  Gates'  Army, 103 

Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton  taken, 104 

Esopus  Burned, 105 

Burgoyne  in  a  Deplorable  Situation  and  General  Gates  under  Embarrassment, 105 

Daniel  Taylor,  a  Spy,  taken  and  executed — He  swallows  a  Silver  Bullet,  and  is  made 

to  discharge  it, 106 

Burgoyne  proposes  to  Capitulate, 106 

Articles  of  Capitulation  agreed  on, 107 

British  Army  surrender, 107 

Burgoyne  attempts  to  evade  the  Treaty, 108 

Trophies  of  the  Victory,  and  Observations  respecting  it, 1 09 

Misfortunes  of  Lady  Ackland, 110 

Meritorious  Services  of  General  Schuyler, Ill 

Captured  Officers  and  Ladies  arrive  at  General  Schuyler's, 112 

Our  Hospital  crowded  with  Wounded  Men, 112 

Remarkable  Preservation  of  Captain  Gregg, 114 

Indian  Mode  of  Scalping, 115 

Ceremonies  at  an  Indian  Treaty, 115 

Battle  of  Brandywine, 117 

Royal  Army  enter  Philadelphia, 117 

«4Jattle  of  Germantown, 117 

Battle  of  Red  Bank, 119 

Fort  Mifflin  evacuated, li>0 

Singular  Conduct  of  Rev.  Mr.  Duche — his  Prayer, 121 

Master  Trotter's  Dancing-school, 122 

American  Torpedo, 122 

Celebration  of  our  Alliance  with  France, 126 

Sufferings  of  our  Army  at  Valley  Forge, 1^7 

Attempt  to  supersede  General  Washington, 129 

Trial  and  Execution  of  Culprits, 131 

Catastrophe  at  Schoharie, 131 


x  CONTENTS. 

PA.QK 

Removal  from  Albany, , 132 

Robinson's  house  occupied  as  a  Hospital — description  of  it  and  its  vicinity, 132 

Sugar-loaf  Mountain  and  Putnam's  Rock, 133 

Royal  Commissioners  make  Proposals  for  an  adjustment  of  Difficulties, 134 

Congress  address  the  People, 135 

Dissatisfaction  among  our  Officers. 136 

Congress  grant  Half-pay  for  seven  years, 137 

Royal  Army  evacuate  Philadelphia, 138 

Battle  of  Monmouth, , .  138 

Affair  of  General  Lee, 138 

An  Unlucky  Shot, 140 

Royal  Commissioners'  Improper  Conduct, 140 

Shaking  Quakers, . 141 

Tragical  Event  and  Barbarous  Conduct  at  Wyoming, 142 

A  Black-snake, 145 

French  Fleet  arrive  at  Rhode  Island,  and  an  Expedition  there, 146 

General  Lee  tried  and  condemned, 147 

A  Duel, 147 

General  Putnam  visits  the  Hospital, 148 

Declaration  of  British  Commissioners, 148 

Congress  reply  to  the  Commissioners, 149 

Colonel  Baylor's  Regiment  massacred, 150 

General  Washington  visits  the  Hospital ;  his  person  described, }52 

Generals  Schuyler  and  St.  Clair  tried  and  acquitted— Character  of  the  latter, 153 

Brigadier-General  Muhlenburg  gives  an  Entertainment, 154 

The  Author  appointed  Regimental  Surgeon, 154 

A  Visit  to  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette, 155 

Colonel  Alden  slain, 156 

March  through  the  Jerseys, 156 

A  remarkably  large  Child, 157 

An  Entertainment, 158 

Log  H  uts, ]  58 

A  Duel, 159 

A  Celebration, 159 

Dinner  at  Head-Quarters ;  General  Washington  and  Mrs.  W 160 

Public  Execution, 161 

Grand  Review  by  the  French  Minister  and  Don  Mirrilliars, 162 

General  Washington  on  horseback, 162 

Indian  Chiefs  review  our  Army, 163 

Review  by  Baron  Steuben ;  some  Account  of  the  Baron, 103 

A  Duel, 165 

The  Author  invited  to  join  Colonel  H.  Jackson's  Regiment, 166 

A  remarkably  large  Ox  presented  to  General  Washington, 167 

A  Journey  to  Providence, 167 

Incursion  of  Governor  Tryon  into  Connecticut, 168 

Capture  of  Stony  Point, 168 

Dinner  at  General  Gates'  Head-Quarters, 169 

Female  Heroism, 169 

Anecdote  of  Lieut.  T.  and  General  Gates, 169 

Penobscot  Expedition, 169 

A  Forced  March  to  Boston, 171 

Anecdote  of  a  Soldier, 171 

Civilities  of  the  Gentlemen  in  Boston, 171 

Embark  for  Penobscot ;  Disembark  at  Kittcry ;  March  to  Falmouth, 172 

Defeat  of  our  Army  and  Navy  at  Penobscot, 174 

Some  Account  of  Falmouth  and  Civilities  received  there, 174 

Anecdote  of  J.  Otis,  Esq 175 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGE 

Stony  Point  taken,  and  Officers  rewarded  for  their  bravery, 176 

Paulus  Hook  taken  by  Major  Lee, 178 

Return  to  Providence, 178 

Mr.  Murray's  Preachment, 178 

Anecdote  of  General  Prescott  and  of  a  Negro, 179 

Newport  evacuated  by  the  British, 179 

March  through  Connecticut  to  Head-Quarters, 180 

Sufferings  of  our  Army  by  Cold  and  Famine, 180 

Disadvantage  of  Short  Enlistments, 182 

-^General  Lincoln  and  Count  D'Estaing  make  an  Unsuccessful  Attack  on  Savannah,..  183 

Extraordinary  Exploit  of  Colonel  White, 183 

Aaecdote  at  Head-Quarters, 184 

Privations  and  Sufferings  of  our  Army, 185 

Military  Punishments, 186 

Reenlistment  of  Soldiers, i 188 

Expedition  to  Staten  Island, 188 

A  Party  of  Massachusetts  Soldiers  attempt  to  return  Home, 189 

Winter-Quarters;  Sufferings  of  our  Soldiers ;  Severe  Winter, 190 

Major  Boyles  and  Party  surprised, 191 

A  Grand  Review  by  the  French  Minister, 192 

Pompous  Funeral  at  Head-Quarters, 192 

Dissatisfaction  in  Camp, 193 

Great  Depreciation  of  Continental  Money, 194 

Congress  grants  Half-pay  to  the  Officers  for  Life, 194 

Committee  of  Congress  visit  Camp, 195 

Public  Execution, 195 

Difficulties  in  Camp, 197 

Mutiny  of  two  Regiments, 197 

Skirmish  at  Connecticut  Farms, 198s 

Murder  of  the  Lady  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Caldwell, 199 

General  Lincoln  surrenders  Charleston, 199 

Three  Spies  executed, 200 

Battle  at  Springfield,  New  Jersey, 201 

Description  of  Passaic  Falls, 203 

Remarkably  Big-headed  Boy  at  Tatawa 203 

^French  Fleet  and  Army  arrive, 204 

A  Dinner  at  Lord  Stirling's, 205 

Corps  of  Light-Infantry  formed  under  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette, 207 

Our  Army  prepared  for  Active  Service, 207 

A  Committee  from  Congress, 207 

A  Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr.  E.  Hitchcock, 209 

A  Famine  apprehended ;  our  Army  march  in  quest  of  Provisions, 209 

Two  Fatal  Duels, 210 

Defeat  of  our  Southern  Army  under  General  Gates  ;  Baren  de  Kalb  slain, 210 

Funeral  of  General  Poor, 212 

Review  of  our  Army  by  Indian  Chiefs, 213 

General  Washington  journeys  to  Hartford, 214 

Major-General  Greene  succeeds  to  the  command, 214 

Treason  of  General  Arnold  ;  Capture  of  Major  Andre ;  West  Point  described, 215 

Character  of  General  Arnold  ;  Circumstances  o    Major  Andre's  Capture, 216 

The  Captors  of  Major  Andro  rewarded, 219 

Trial  and  Condemnation  of  Major  Andre, 224 

Letter  from  Major  Andre  to  General  Washington, 225 

Flag  from  New  York  respecting  Major  Andre, 225 

Execution  of  Major  Andre;  his  Character, 228 

Tragical  Death  of  Captain  Hale, SOO 

'Trial  of  Joshua  Smith,  Esq.,  Arnold's  Confederate, 233 


xii  CONTENTS. 

FAOB 

Incursion  of  the  Enemy  on  Northern  Frontiers, 235 

Successful  Engagement  at  the  South \v;ird, 235 

A  Foraging  Expedition;  the  Neutral  Ground, 237 

Ladies  contribute  to  thy  relief  of  our  Army;  Address  from  an  American  Lady, 210 

Scarcity  of  Provisions  in  Camp  ;  Enterprise  of  Major  Talmage, 242     " 

Great  Dissatisfaction  among  the  Officers, 243 

General  Washington  recommends  to  Congress  an  Half-pay  Establishment, 244 

Now  Arrangement  of  the  Army, 245 

Mutiny  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line, 246 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hull's  Successful  Expedition, 250 

Mutiny  of  the  Jersey  Line, 251 

Brilliant  Action  of  General  Sampler, .'^53 

Battle  of  the  Cowpens, ;%>4 

Devastation  on  the  Neutral  Ground, 255 

A  Visit  to  the  British  Lines  by  a  Flag, 255 

Confederat  ion  ratified, 257 

Inoculation  of  the  Troops  with  Small-pox, 257 

Virtues  of  Butternut, 258 

Capture  of  General  VVadsworth, 258 

Character  of  Dr.  Cochran, 259 

Battle  of  Guilford;  Distress  of  our  Southern  Army, 2CO 

Arnold's  Expedition  to  Virginia, 260 

Success  of  General  Greene's  Army  in  Carolina  ;  Desertions  from  the  Enemy, 261 

Colonel  Greene  and  his  Party  slain, 26:2 

Singular  Project  contemplated,  and  Important  Despatches  taken  by  the  Enemy, 2C3 

Charms  of  Martial  Music, 264 

Our  Army  advance  towards  the  Enemy, 264 

-French  Army  unite  with  ours, 265 

Cwrps  of  Light-Infantry  formed  by  Colonel  Scammel ;  the  Author  joins  it, 266 

Disaster  of  a  British  Ship  ;  Expedition  to  the  Enemy's  Lines, 267 

Our  Army  in  motion  ;  Conjecture  respecting  the  Object  of  the  Campaign, 268 

The  Secret  explained  ;  we  march  for  the  South — a  masterly  piece  of  generalship,....  270 

Lord  Cornwaliis  the  Object  of  our  Expedition, 270 

March  through  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 271 

-French  Fleet  arrive  at  the  Chesapeake, 274 

Embark  at  the  head  of  Elk  ;  Voyage  down  the  Chesapeake, 274 

Put  in  at  the  Harbor  of  Anapolis, „ 275 

Arnold's  Expedition  to  Connecticut, 276 

Naval  Engagement;  the  British  defeated ;  Voyage  down  the  Chesapeake, 277 

Reach  the  Harbor  of  Jamestown, 278 

Arrive  at  Yorktown,  and  begin  the  Siege, 279 

Colonel  Scammel  wounded  and  taken, 280 

Anecdote  of  General  Washington  and  Mr.  Evans, 280 

The  British  obliged  to  kill  their  Horses, 280 

Colonel  Tarleton  wounded  in  a  Skirmish  ;  Death  of  Colonel  Scammel, 281 

A  Detachment  from  the  Allied  Army  open  Entrenchments  against  the  Enemy, 281 

Tremendous  Cannonade  from  our  Lines, 283 

A  Splendid  Conflagration  of  British  Vessels, 283 

Second  Parallel  Line  thrown  up, 283 

Two  Redoubts  taken  by  the  Allied  Army, 284 

Anecdote  of  General  Washington  and  Colonel  Cobb, 285 

Anecdote  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  Baron  Viomenil  (note), 285 

Cornwall**  proposes  to  Capitulate  ;  Bold  Attempt  to  effect  his  Escape, 287 

Articles  of  Capitulation  ratified, 287 

Surrender  of  the  British  Army, 288 

Singular  Circumstance  respecting  Cornwaliis  and  Mr.  Laurens  (note), 283 

-Comuiaiider-in-Chief  expresses  his  Thanks  to  the  Army,  &c 291 


COW  TENTS.  xjii 

PAGE 

Enormities  practised  by  the  Enemy  in  Virginia, 292 

Colonel  Tarleton's  Horse  taken  from  him, 292 

View  of  Yorktown  after  the  Siege ;  Loss  on  both  sides, " 292 

Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  Enormities, 293 

Ferocious  Animosity  between  the  two  Parties, 293 

Cruel  Death  of  Colonel  Hayiie, 297 

Sanguinary  Character  of  Lord  Rawdon, 298 

Anecdote  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  Lord  Cornwallis, 300 

Battle  at  Eutaw  Springs, 301 

Anecdote  of  Lord  Cornwallis  ;  Voyage  up  the  Chesapeake,  &c 302 

Exploit  of  Major  Trescott, 303 

Incursion  of  the  Enemy  on  our  Frontiers, 304 

Proceedings  of  Congress  on  our  Victory, 305 

A  bbe  Bandole's  Address, 306 

Fatal  Duel, 308 

Splendid  Celebration  of  the  Birth  of  the  Dauphin, 309 

Mutiny  in  the  Connecticut  Line, 310 

Cruel  Murder  of  Captain  Huddy, 312 

General  Washington  resolves  on  Retaliation  :  the  lot  falls  on  Captain  Asgill, 314 

Lady  Asgill  receives  intelligence  of  the  situation  of  her  son,  implores  the  compassion 
of  the  English  king  and  queen,  and  solicits  the  interposition  of  the  king  and  queen 

of  France, 317 

Count  de  Vergennes  addresses  General  Washington  in  favor  of  Asgill,  who  is  finally 

liberated, 317 

Baron  Grimm's  Erroneous  Statement  respecting  Captain  Asgill, 318 

Lady  Asgill's  two  Letters  to  the  Count  de  Vergennes, 319 

Dr.  Jones  and  Robert  Morris, 321 

Review  of  our  Army  by  Count  Rochambeau, 322 

Lamented  Death  of  Colonel  Laurens, 323 

Loss  of  the  Royal  George, 324 

Prospect  of  Peace  ;  General  McDougall, 324 

Reduction  of  our  Army, 325 

A  Final  Adieu  to  Military  Life, 326 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS, 

SOCIETY  OP  CINCINNATI, 327 

Officers  of  the  Army  memorialize  Congress, 329 

Proceedings  of  that  body, 330 

Anonymous  Letters  to  the  Army, 330 

Wise  Measures  of  Washington  to  counteract  the  effects  of  the  Anonymous  Letters,. .  333 

Author  of  the  Anonymous  Letters  (note), 333 

Washington's  admirable  Address  to  the  Officers, 334 

The  Officers  present  their  Thanks  to  his  Excellency,  with  affectionate  expressions,...  336 

General  Washington  addresses  Congress  in  favor  of  the  Army, 337 

Congress  grant  a  sum  in  gross  as  a  Commutation  for  Half-pay, 338 

The  Commander-in-Chief  orders  a  Truce,  and  congratulates  the  Army, 339 

Officers  still  dissatisfied,  and  address  the  Commander-in-Chief, 341 

His  Reply, 342 

Proclamation  of  Congress  for  a  cessation  of  Hostilities, 343 

Mutiny  of  a  Party  of  Pennsylvania  Soldiers, 343 

General  Washington  issues  his  Farewell  Orders, 345 

Disbandment  of  the  Army, 346 

Congress  give  their  Thanks  to  the  Army;  Painful  Parting  Scene, 346 

Royal  Army  evacuate  New  York,  and  American  Troops  take  possession, 346 

General  Washington's  Parting  Scene, .  .  347 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

FAGH 

General  Washington  resigns  his  Commission ;  addresses  President  of  Congress, 348 

Reply  of  the  President  of  Congress, 349 

Number  of  Men  lost  during  the  American  War, 350 

Loss  to  Great  Britain  ;  Gain  to  the  United  States,. 350 

Extract  of  a  Circular  Letter  from  General  Washington, 350 

Colonel  John  Crane  and  many  other  Boston  Mechanics, 35 1 

Colonel  Paul  Revere, 354 

Anecdotes  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Captain  Houdin, 354 


APPENDIX, 

General  Burgoyne's  Observations  respecting  the  Battles  at  Saratoga  and  Death  of 

General  Frazer, ! 357 

Affecting  Story  of  Lady  Ackland, 359 

Extract  from  the  Baroness  Reidesel's  Narrative, 301 

Her  interesting  Account  of  General  Frazer  and  other  Wounded  Officers, 363 

Of  the  Ladies  of  the  Army, 367 

Her  Kind  Reception  by  General  Schuyler, 370 

Anecdote  of  General  Burgoyne  and  General  Schuyler, 371 

Battle  of  the  Kegs, 372 

Capture  and  Remarkable  Adventures  of  General  Wadeworth, *  374 

Singular  Adventures  of  Sergeant  Champe, 380 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES, 

Or  General  Putnam, 400 

«  «       Heath, 411 

«  "        Lincoln, 414 

«  «       Steuben, 425 

«  «       La  Fayette, 437 

«  «       Gates, 443 

«  «        Stark, 451 

«  «       Sullivan, 453 

«  «       Conway, 456 

«  «       Lee, 458 

«  «       Arnold, 465 

«  «       Knox, 477 


LIFE  OP   WASHINGTON. 

CHAPTER      I. — English  Ancestry — birthplace — early  days — surveying,  &c., 487 

CHAPTER    II. — Adjutant  General — Marries  Mrs.  Custiss — appointed  General,  &c., 496 

CHAPTER  III.— Elected  President— illness  and  death— Washington's  opinion  of  Slavery,  506 


WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS 516 

DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE, 527 

Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 529 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 530 

AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION,...  537 


WASHINGTON. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL.-1775. 


January. — AT  the  precise  period  when  my  medical 
studies  and  education  are  completed,  under  the  patronage 
of  Dr.  Abner  Hersey  of  Barnstable,  and  I  am  contem 
plating  the  commencement  of  a  new  career  in  life,  I  find 
our  country  about  to  be  involved  in  all  the  horrors  of  a 
civil  war.  A  series  of  arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures, 
on  the  part  of  the  mother-country,  has  long  been  advancing 
to  that  awful  crisis,  when  an  appeal  to  the  power  of  the 
sword  becomes  inevitable.  The  event  of  this  mighty 
struggle  is  to  decide  an  affair  of  infinite  magnitude,  not 
merely  as  it  respects  the  present  generation,  but  as  it  will 
affect  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  unborn  millions.  The 
great  fundamental  principle,  in  the  present  controversy, 
is  the  right  which  is  claimed  by  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain,  to  exercise  dominion,  as  the  only  supreme  and 
uncontrollable  legislative  power  over  all  the  American 
Colonies.  "Can  they  make  laws  to  bind  the  colonies  in 
all  cases  whatever ;  levy  taxes  on  them  without  their  con 
sent;  dispose  of  the  revenues,  thus  raised,  without  their 
control;  multiply  officers  at  pleasure,  and  assign  them 
fees,  to  be  paid  without,  nay,  contrary  to  and  in  direct 
violation  of  acts  of  our  provincial  assemblies,  and  approved 
by  the  crown?  Can  they  enlarge  the  power  of  admiralty 
courts;  divert  the  usual  channels  of  justice;  deprive  the 
colonists  of  trial  by  a  jury  of  their  countrymen;  in  short, 
break  down  the  barriers  which  their  forefathers  have 
erected  against  arbitrary  power,  and  enforce  their  edicts 
by  fleets  and  armies?"  Then  indeed  are  we  reduced  to  a 
state  of  abject  slavery;  and  all  resistance  to  acts  of  Par 
liament  may  justly  be  called  by  the  name  of  treason  and 
rebellion.  "The  people  of  these  colonies  consider  them 
selves  as  British  subjects,  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  Freemen.  It  is  inseparably  essential  to  the 


8  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

freedom  of  a  people,  and  the  undoubted  right  of  English 
men,  that  no  taxes  be  imposed  on  them  but  with  their 
own  consent,  given  personally  or  by  their  representatives. 
From  their  local  circumstances,  the  colonies  cannot  be 
represented  in  the  house  of  commons  of  Great  Britain; 
the  only  representatives  of  the  people  of  the  colonies  are 
the  persons  chosen  therein  by  themselves;  and  no  taxes 
ever  can  be  constitutionally  imposed  on  them,  but  by  their 
respective  legislatures."  All  acts  of  Parliament  therefore, 
for  raising  a  revenue  in  America,  are  considered  as  de 
priving  us  of  our  property,  without  our  consent,  and  con 
sequently  as  a  palpable  infringement  of  our  ancient  rights 
and  privileges.  They  are  unconstitutional  and  arbitrary 
laws,  subversive  of  the  liberties  and  privileges  secured  to 
us  by  our  royal  charters.  It  is  not  consistent  with  the 
principles  which  actuate  the  American  people,  ever  tamely 
to  submit  to  such  a  degrading  system  of  government;  not, 
however,  from  a  want  of  loyalty  to  our  king,  nor  from  an 
•undue  impatience  of  subordination  or  legal  restraint;  for 
in  a  quiet  submission  and  demeanor  to  constitutional  au 
thority,  and  in  zeal  and  attachment  to  our  king,  we  dare 
to  vie  with  any  qf  our  fellow-subjects  of  Great  Britain; 
but  it  is  an  innate  love  of  liberty,  and  our  just  rights,  that 
impels  us  to  the  arduous  struggle.  In  no  country,  it  is 
asserted,  is  the  love  of  liberty  more  deeply  rooted,  or  the 
knowledge  of  the  rights  inherent  to  freemen  more  gener 
ally  diffused,  or  better  understood,  than  among  the  British 
American  Colonies.  Our  religious  and  political  privileges 
are  derived  from  our  virtuous  fathers;  they  were  inhaled 
with  our  earliest  breath;  and  are,  and  will  I  trust  ever 
be,  implanted  and  cherished  in  the  bosom  of  the  present 
and  future  generations.  These  are  the  prevalent  senti 
ments  in  New  England  at  this  eventful  crisis,  and  all  the 
other  provinces,  Georgia  excepted,  are  known  to  be  in 
unison  with  us  in  the  resolution,  to  oppose  with  all  our 
power  every  violation  of  our  just  rights  and  privileges. 
We  are  not,  however,  authorized,  even  in  the  most  glorious 
of  causes,  to  expect  a  perfect  unanimity  among  a  people. 
Numerous  are  the  springs  of  men's  actions;  and  diversity 
of  sentiment  and  views  are  characteristic  of  human  nature. 
Accordingly  we  find  a  small  minority  in  our  country  who 
are  inimical  to  the  common  cause,  and  who  are  continually 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1775.  9 

opposing  every  proceeding  of  the  majority.  These  people 
are  doubtless  actuated  by  various  motives;  a  few,  com 
paratively,  influenced  by  principle;  some  by  a  spirit  of 
timidity,  or  the  absurd  doctrine  of  passive  obedience  and 
non-resistance;  others,  from  the  strength  of  their  passions, 
and  weakness  of  judgment,  are  biassed  and  led  astray  by 
designing  demagogues.  There  are,  however,  those  who 
are  vile  enough  to  prostrate  all  honor  and  principle  with 
the  sordid  view  of  office  and  preferment: 

"For  'tis  their  duty,  all  the  learned  think, 
T'  espouse  that  cause  by  which  they  eat  and  drink." 

Those  disaffected  individuals,  who  still  adhere  to  the 
royal  cause,  have  received  the  epithet  of  Tories;  the  very 
name  is  extremely  abhorrent  to  the  people  in  general,  and 
they  are  subjected  to  such  rigorous  discipline  as  to  prevent 
them  from  doing  injury  to  the  great  cause  of  our  country. 
The  great  majority  of  the  people  are  happily  united  in 
the  resolution  to  oppose,  to  the  uttermost,  the  wicked 
attempts  of  the  English  cabinet.  This  class  of  people  have 
assumed  the  appellation  of  Whigs;  but  by  our  enemies 
are  stigmatized  by  the  name  of  Rebels.  If,  as  we  affirm, 
the  British  government  have  ceased  to  rule  agreeably  to 
the  principles  of  our  constitution,  and  our  royal  charter, 
and  have  assumed  to  themselves  the  high  prerogative  of 
despotic  sway,  then  are  we  absolved  from  our  allegiance 
and  duties  as  British  subjects.  A  contract  abrogated  by 
one  party,  can  no  longer  be  binding  on  the  other.  If  we 
are  menaced  with  royal  power  and  authority,  we  justify 
ourselves  in  defending  our  indefeasible  rights  against  des 
potism  and  tyrannical  oppression.  Cowards  alone  will 
bend  to  unjust  power,  and  slaves  and  sycophants  only 
will  yield  both  soul  and  body  to  the  disposal  of  tyrannical 
masters.  Should  our  efforts,  under  God,  be  crowned  with 
the  desired  success,  we  shall  obtain  the  honor  of  rescuing 
ourselves  and  posterity  from  vassalage;  but  if  compelled 
to  succumb  under  royal  power,  then  will  ours  be  the 
rebel's  fate,  the  scaffold  and  the  gibbet  will  be  glutted  with 
their  devoted  victims.  We  cannot  justly  be  accused  of  a 
rash  precipitance  of  proceeding;  for  petitions  and  memo 
rials,  couched  in  the  most  loyal  and  humble  language,  have 
been  at  various  periods  presented  to  our  royal  sovereign, 


10  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

and  his  parliament,  praying  for  a  redress  of  grievances; 
but  they  are  deaf  to  all  our  complaints  and  supplications, 
and  the  coercive  arm  of  power  is  suspended  over  us, 
threatening  implacable  vengeance. 

Among  the  odious  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  they 
passed  one  which  imposed  a  duty  on  the  article  of  tea,  and 
several  cargoes  of  this  commodity  were  shipped  to  America 
to  obtain  the  duty  and  a  market.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
tea  ships  at  Boston  great  indignation  was  excited  among 
the  people;  town  meetings  were  called  to  devise  some 
legal  measures  to  prohibit  the  landing  of  the  odious  article. 
It  was  universally  understood  that  if  the  tea  was  once 
landed,  and  stored,  it  would  by  some  means  come  to  a 
market,  and  the  duty  to  the  government  be  secured.  In 
order  to  defeat  this  object  a  number  of  persons  in  disguise 
entered  the  ships  at  the  wharves,  broke  open  three  hun 
dred  and  forty-two  chests  of  tea,  and  discharged  their  con 
tents  into  the  water  at  the  dock.  This  was  on  the  16th 
December,  1773.  When  intelligence  of  this  summary 
proceeding  reached  England,  it  was  condemned  by  the 
government  as  enormously  criminal.  They  menaced  our 
province  with  the  most  exemplary  vengeance,  and  Parlia 
ment  soon  passed  the  Boston  Vindictive  Port  Bill  as  a  part 
of  their  coercive  system,  so  that  merely  the  name  of  tea 
is  now  associated  with  ministerial  grievances,  and  tea 
drinking  is  almost  tantamount  to  an  open  avowal  of  tory- 
ism.  Those  who  are  anxious  to  avoid  the  odious  epithet 
of  enemies  to  their  country,  strictly  prohibit  the  use  of  tea 
in  their  families,  and  the  most  squeamish  ladies  are  com 
pelled  to  have  recourse  to  substitutes,  or  secretly  steal 
indulgence  in  their  favorite  East  India  beverage. 

March.- — For  the  purpose  of  enforcing  submission  to  the 
cruel  mandates  of  the  royal  government,  a  reinforcement 
of  the  British  army  has  arrived  at  Boston;  and  General 
Gage  is  appointed  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief. 
An  armed  fleet  also  occupies  the  harbor;  and  the  whole 
port  is  closed  against  all  but  British  vessels.  In  short, 
the  horrors  of  civil  war  seem  stalking,  with  rapid  strides, 
towards  our  devoted  country.  The  people  have  resorted 
to  the  expedient  of  abolishing  all  the  courts  of  justice 
under  the  new  regulations.  In  our  shire  towns  the  popu 
lace  have  collected  in  sufficient  numbers  to  bar  the  doors 


MAJOR   GENERAL    ISUAKL    1'1'INAM. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  };[ 

of  the  court  houses,  and  prohibit  the  entrance  of  judges 
and  officers;  the  jurors  are  so  intimidated,  or  zealous  in 
the  good  cause,  that  in  general  they  refuse  to  take  the  oath, 
or  to  act  in  any  manner  under  the  new  modification  of 
government;  and  the  clerks  of  courts,  who  have  issued 
warrants  by  which  the  jurors  are  summoned,  have  in  many 
instances  been  compelled  to  acknowledge  their  contrition, 
and  to  publish  in  the  newspapers,  a  full  recantation.  At 
the  regular  term  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  at  Barn- 
stable  in  September  last,  I  witnessed  the  following  prompt 
procedure.  A  body  of  about  twelve  hundred  men  assem 
bled  and  obstructed  the  passage  to  the  court-house  door. 
The  leader  of  this  assemblage  was  Dr.  Nathaniel  Freeman, 
a  bold  son  of  liberty,  of  Sandwich.  Colonel  James  Otis, 
the  chief  justice  of  the  court,  preceded  by  the  sheriff, 
approached;  and  the  venerable  chief  justice  demanded 
admission.  Dr.  Freeman  replied  that  it  was  the  intention 
of  the  people  to  prevent  the  court's  being  opened  to  exer 
cise  those  unconstitutional  powers  with  which  they  are 
invested  by  Parliament.  The  chief  justice,  in  his  majes 
ty's  name,  commanded  them  to  disperse,  and  permit  the 
court  to  enter  and  proceed  to  business.  But  his  majesty's 
name  had  lost  its  power;  it  can  have  no  charms  with  the 
sons  of  liberty.  The  venerable  judge  then  said  he  had 
acquitted  himself  of  his  duty,  and  retired.  This  proceed 
ing  had  been  discussed  and  concerted  prior  to  the  court 
term;  and  Colonel  Otis  himself,  a  stanch  whig,  was,  it  is 
believed,  not  only  apprized  of,  but  actually  acquiesced  in, 
this  bold  measure.  This  excellent  man  is  now  advanced 
to  about  seventy-four  years  in  life;  he  is  considered  as 
possessing  sound  sense  and  good  judgment;  and  as  being 
of  the  purest  integrity.  He  has  been,  for  many  years,  the 
leading  law  character  in  the  Old  Colony,  and  a  member 
of  his  majesty's  council  of  the  province;  but  his  patriotism 
and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  our  country  have  rendered  him 
and  his  family  exceedingly  odious  to  Governor  Hutchinson 
and  other  adherents  of  the  crown.  Colonel  Otis  is  the 
parent  of  that  great  champion,  and  able  advocate  for  liberty 
and  the  rights  of  man,  James  Otis,  jun.  Esq.  This  gen 
tleman  is  now  in  a  melancholy  state  of  mental  derange 
ment;  and  all  New  England  is  deploring  the  irreparable 
loss  of  the  talents,  eloquence,  and  patriotic  services  of  this 
2 


12  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

just! y  celebrated  character.  Colonel  Otis  has  two  other 
sons,  Joseph  and  Samuel  Allen  Otis,  who  are  active  whigs; 
and  a  daughter,  married  to  James  Warren,  Esq.  of  Ply 
mouth,  who  is  now  President  of  our  provincial  Congress. 
Though  no  judicial  courts  are  in  existence,  few  crimes  are 
committed;  all  is  peace,  order  and  regularity.  The  peo 
ple  are  their  own  rulers,  and  never  was  there  less  need 
of  penal  laws.  Trivial  disputes  are  mutually  adjusted  or 
decided  by  reference;  pecuniary  demands  are  suspended, 
and  the  simple  recommendations  of  Congress,  and  of  our 
committees  of  safety,  receive  that  cheerful  acquiescence 
which  is  scornfully  denied  to  the  coercive  edicts  emanating 
from  despotic  power.  For 

"Freedom  has  a  thousand  charms,  to  show 
That  slaves,  howe'er  contented,  never  know." 

We  have  a  provincial  Congress  in  session  at  Concord, 
consisting  of  delegates  elected  by  the  people,  and  also  a 
grand  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  composed  of 
characters  highly  distinguished  for  political  wisdom,  rigid 
patriotism  and  public  virtue. 

The  public  indignation  is  now  greatly  excited  by  the 
following  shameful  transaction.  The  people  from  the 
country,  whose  business  called  them  into  Boston,  were 
suspected  by  the  officers  of  purchasing  guns  from  their 
soldiers.  In  order  to  furnish  an  opportunity  to  inflict 
punishment  and  to  raise  occasion  for  a  serious  quarrel, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Nesbit  of  the  forty-seventh  regiment 
ordered  a  soldier  to  offer  a  countryman  an  old  rusty  mus 
ket.  A  man  from  Billerica  was  caught  by  this  bait,  and 
purchased  the  gun  for  three  dollars.  The  unfortunate 
man  was  immediately  seized  by  Nesbit,  and  confined  in 
the  guard-house  all  night.  Early  next  morning  they 
stripped  him  entirely  naked,  covered  him  over  with  warm 
tar,  and  then  with  feathers,  placed  him  on  a  cart,  and  con 
ducted  him  through  the  streets  as  far  as  liberty-tree,  where 
the  people  began  to  collect  in  vast  numbers;  and  the  mil 
itary,  fearing  for  their  own  safety,  dismissed  the  man,  and 
retreated  to  their  barracks.  The  party  consisted  of  about 
thirty  grenadiers  with  fixed  bayonets,  twenty  drums  and 
fifes  playing  the  Eogues'  March,  headed  by  the  redoubta 
ble  Nesbit  with  a  drawn  sword!  What  an  honorable  deed 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  ^3 

for  a  British  field  officer  and  grenadiers!  The  selectmen 
of  Billerica  remonstrated  with  General  Gage  respecting 
this  outrage,  but  obtained  no  satisfaction. 

April  21s£ — Intelligence  is  now  received  that  the  British 
regulars  have  marched  out  of  Boston,  and  actually  com 
menced  hostilities  against  our  people  at  Lexington.  For 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  particular  facts,  I  have 
been  desired  to  wait  on  Colonel  Otis,  at  his  mansion  in 
this  town.  It  was  in  the  evening,  when  I  found  this  dig 
nified  patriot  in  his  easy-chair,  with  several  of  his  neigh 
bors  listening  with  agitated  spirits  to  some  account  of  this 
first  most  awful  tragedy.  The  good  old  gentleman  had 
received  a  letter  containing  a  statement  of  some  particu 
lars,  and  with  manifest  trepidation  he  said  to  this  effect: 
"The  British  troops  marched  to  Lexington  and  Concord 
last  Wednesday,  the  19th  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  de 
stroying  some  of  oar  military  stores;  our  militia  collected 
and  met  them  at  Lexington ;  the  regulars  soon  commenced 
firing  on  them;  our  people  returned  the  fire;  a  smart 
skirmish  ensued,  and  several  men  were  killed  on  both 
sides.  The  British  were  compelled  to  retreat,  in  some 
confusion,  to  Boston ;  and  our  people  pursued  and  harassed 
them.  The  fearful  day  has  arrived!  a  civil  war  has  act 
ually  commenced  in  our  land.  We  must  be  prepared  for 
the  worst,  and  may  God  preserve  and  protect  our  country." 
This  tragical  event  seems  to  have  electrified  all  classes  of 
people ;  the  brave  are  fired  with  manly  resentment,  the 
timid  overwhelmed  in  despair;  the  patriotic  whigs  sor 
rowing  over  public  calamities,  while  the  tories  indulge 
the  secret  hope,  that  the  friends  of  liberty  are  about  to 
receive  their  chastisement.  The  sword  is  now  unsheathed, 
and  our  friends  are  slaughtered  by  our  cruel  enemies; 
expresses  are  hastening  from  town  to  town,  in  all  directions 
through  the  country,  spreading  the  melancholy  tidings 
and  inspiriting  and  rousing  the  people  To  Arms!  To  Arms! 
The  people  of  New  England  have  taken  the  alarm,  and 
their  hearts  are  animated  even  to  enthusiasm.  There  is 
an  enthusiasm  in  religion,  in  politics,  in  military  achieve 
ments,  and  in  gallantry  and  love,  and  why  not  an  enthu 
siasm  in  the  love  of  country?  No  species  of  enthusiasm 
surely  can  be  more  laudable,  or  more  honorable.  Never 
was  a  cause  more  just,  more  sacred  than  ours;  we  are 


14  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

commanded  to  defend  the  rich  inheritance  bequeathed  to 
us  by  our  virtuous  ancestors;  and  it  is  our  bounden  duty 
to  transmit  it  uncontaminated  to  posterity;  we  must  fight 
valiantly  therefore,  for  our  lives  and  property,  for  our 
holy  religion,  for  our  honor,  and  for  our  dearest  friends. 
We  are  not  born  to  be  slaves,  and  are  resolved  to  live  and 
die  free;  appealing  to  the  Sovereign  Kuler  of  the  Universe 
for  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  relying  on  his  Almighty 
arm  for  protection  and  support.  A  certain  number  of  active 
men,  in  every  town,  have  formed  themselves  into  military 
companies,  under  the  name  of  minute-men ;  they  are  daily 
practising  the  manual  exercise,  and  are  held  in  constant 
readiness  to  march  against  the  enemy  at  a  moment's  warn 
ing.  We  await  with  trembling  expectation  the  issue  of 
every  hour. 

Authenticated  accounts  are  now  received  of  the  battle 
at  Lexington.  On  Tuesday  evening,  18th  instant,  Gen 
eral  Gage  despatched,  with  as  much  secrecy  as  possible,  a 
detachment  consisting  of  eight  or  nine  hundred  regulars, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith,  for  t'he 
purpose  of  destroying  some  military  stores  which  our 
people  had  deposited  at  Concord,  about  eighteen  miles 
from  Boston.  Having  arrived  at  Lexington,  six  miles 
short  of  Concord,  they  were  met  by  a  company  of  militia, 
of  about  one  hundred  men,  who,  having  taken  the  alarm, 
began  to  assemble  from  different  towns  before  daylight. 
They  were  assembled  near  the  church,  about  sunrise; 
when  the  British  advanced  in  quick  march  to  within  a  few 
rods,  Major  Pitcairn  called  out,  "Disperse,  you  Rebels!  throw 
down  your  arms  and  disperse"  Their  small  number  would 
not  admit  of  opposition,  and  while  they  were  dispersing, 
the  regulars  huzzaed,  and  immediately  one  or  two  pistols 
were  tired  by  the  officers,  and  four  or  five  muskets  by  the 
soldiers;  when  a  pretty  general  discharge  from  the  whole 
party  followed,  by  which  eight  of  our  people  were  killed 
and  seven  wounded.  The  British  now  renewed  their 
march  to  Concord,  where  they  destroyed  a  few  articles  of 
stores  and  sixty  barrels  of  flour.  Here  they  were  met  by 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  militia-men,  on  whom  they 
iired,  and  killed  two  and  wounded  others.  Oar  militia 
and  minute-men  were  now  collecting  in  considerable  num 
bers,  and  being  justly  enraged  they  made  a  bold  and  furi- 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1775.  15 

ous  attack  on  the  enemy,  and  drove  them  in  quick  march 
to  Lexington.  General  Gage  having  received  intelligence 
>f  the  critical  situation  of  his  troops,  immediately  ordered 
out  Lord  Percy,  with  a  large  reinforcement,  with  two  field 
pieces.  He  marched  over  the  neck  through  Roxbury,  his 
music  playing  by  way  of  contempt  and  derision  the  tune 
of  "  Yankee  doodle"  This  timely  reinforcement  joined  the 
party  under  command  of  Colonel  Smith  at  Lexington, 
which  formed  a  force  of  about  eighteen  hundred  men. 
They  soon  deemed  it  prudent  to  commence  their  march ' 
to  Boston,  the  provincial  militia  and  minute-men,  contin 
ually  increasing  in  numbers,  pursued  and  flanked  them 
with  the  hope  of  cutting  off  their  retreat.  A  constant 
skirmishing  ensued ;  the  provincials  concealed  themselves 
behind  stone  walls,  and  with  a  sure  aim  thinned  their 
enemies'  ranks,  and  occasioned  among  them  great  confu 
sion.  On  their  side,  they  could  only  keep  up  a  scattering 
fire,  without  effect,  frequently  firing  over  the  stone  walls, 
when  there  was  not  a  man  to  be  seen  behind  them.  The 
great  object  of  the  British,  was  to  effect  a  safe  retreat  to 
Boston;  but,  to  avenge  themselves,  they  burnt  and  plun 
dered  houses,  destroyed  property,  and  actually  murdered 
several  innocent  unarmed  persons.  The  situation  of  the 
king's  forces  was,  during  the  day,  extremely  hazardous; 
and  it  is  considered  wonderful  that  any  of  them  'escaped. 
Worn  down  and  almost  exhausted  with  fatigue,  and  their 
ammunition  nearly  expended,  they  had  become  nearly 
defenceless  when  they  reached  Charlestown,  in  the  even 
ing,  after  a  loss  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-three  men, 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  loss  on  the  side  of 
the  Provincials  is  eighty-eight  in  the  whole.  The  British 
officers  have  received  a  specimen  of  Yankee  courage,  which 
they  have  hitherto  affected  to  hold  in  the  most  sovereign 
contempt;  they  have  ascertained,  by  fatal  experience,  that 
the  people  of  New  England  will  bid  defiance  to  their  vet-, 
eran  regulars,  and  fight  courageously  in  defence  of  their 
rights.  It  is  truly  said  to  be  matter  of  astonishment  and 
chagrin,  that  after  all  their  glorying,  their  veteran  troops 
have  been  compelled  to  flee  before  a  comparatively  small 
number  of  undisciplined  Yankees.  The  origin  of  this  term, 
so  frequently  employed  by  way  of  reproach  to  the  New 
England  people,  is  said  to  be  as  follows:  A  farmer,  by 


l§  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775 

name  Jonathan  Hastings,  of  Cambridge,  about  the  year 
1713,  used  it  as  a  cant,  favorite  word,  to  express  excellency 
when  applied  to  any  thing;  as  a  Yankee  good  horse, 
Yankee  cider,  &c.,  meaning  an  excellent  horse  and  excel 
lent  cider.  The  students  at  college,  having  frequent  inter 
course  with  Mr.  Hastings,  and  hearing  him  employ  the 
term  on  all  occasions,  adopted  it  themselves,  and  gave  him 
the  name  of  Yankee  Jonathan;  this  soon  became  a  cant 
word  among  the  collegians  to  express  a  weak,  simple, 
awkward  person,  and  from  college  it  was  carried  and  cir 
culated  through  the  country,  till,  from  its  currency  in 
New  England,  it  was  at  length  taken  up  and  unjustly 
applied  to  the  New  Englanders  in  common,  as  a  term  of 
reproach.  It  was  in  consequence  of  this  that  a  particular 
song,  called  "  Yankee  doodle,"  was  composed  in  derision  of 
those  scornfully  called  Yankees.* 

May. — Since  the  catastrophe  at  Lexington,  our  Provin 
cial  Congress  have  addressed  the  several  towns  of  the 
colony  in  a  circular  letter,  in  the  following  impressive 
language:  "We  conjure  you  by  all  that  is  dear,  by  all 
that  is  sacred,  that  you  give  all  assistance  possible  in 
forming  the  army.  Our  all  is  at  stake.  Death  and  de 
vastation  are  the  certain  consequences  of  delay.  Every 
moment  is  infinitely  precious.  An  hour  lost  may  deluge 
your  country  in  blood,  and  entail  perpetual  slavery  on 
the  few  of  your  posterity  who  may  survive  the  carnage. 
We  beg  and  entreat,  as  you  will  answer  it  to  your  country, 
to  your  consciences,  and,  above  all,  as  you  will  answer  it 
to  Grod  himself,  that  you  will  hasten  and  encourage,  by 
all  possible  means,  the  enlistment  of  men  to  form  the  army, 
and  send  them  forward  to  head-quarters  at  Cambridge, 
with  that  expedition  which  the  vast  importance  and  instant 
urgency  of  the  affair  demands." 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  describe  the  zeal  and  military 
ardor  which  pervades  New  England  since  the  battle  at 
Lexington.  It  is  supposed  that  nearly  forty  thousand 
men  have  been  in  arms  with  the  design  of  investing  the 
town  of  Boston,  and  avenging  themselves  on  the  enemy 

*  There  appears  some  incongruity  in  the  above  definition  of  the  word 
Yankee.  The  following  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  origin  from 
which  it  is  derived:  "  Yankee  is  the  Indian  corruption  of  English. 
Yenglees,  Yangles,  Yankles,  arid  finally  Yankee." 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775 


17 


for  their  late  slaughter  of  our  brethren.  The  universal 
voice  is  "starve  them  out"  Drive  them  from  the  town,  and 
let  his  majesty's  ships  be  their  only  place  of  refuge.  Our 
Provincial  Congress  have  resolved  that  an  army  of  thirty 
thousand  men  be  immediately  raised  and  established.  A 
considerable  number  have  already  enlisted,  and  being 
formed  into  regiments,  have  taken  their  station  at  Cam 
bridge  and  Roxbury.  The  country  militia,  in  great  num 
bers,  have  arrived  from  various  parts  of  New  England; 
and  the  town  of  Boston  is  now  invested  on  all  sides,  and 
thus  is  the  whole  royal  army  reduced  to  the  humble  con 
dition  of  a  besieged  garrison.  The  situation  of  the  inhab 
itants  is  deplorable;  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  most 
affluent  have  removed  into  the  country;  but  others,  from 
various  circumstances,  are  compelled  to  remain  and  suffer 
All  the  calamities  of  a  besieged  town  and  precarious  sub 
sistence.  Instances  indeed  are  not  wanting  of  members 
of  families  being  torn  from  each  other,  women  and  chil 
dren  flying  from  their  husbands  and  parents,  under  the 
most  afflictive  and  destitute  circumstances. 

We  are  now  experiencing  a  singular  kind  of  interreg 
num  in  our  province ;  more  than  a  year  has  elapsed  with 
out  any  legal  government,  or  any  regular  administration 
of  law  and  justice. — No  crimes,  however,  of  an  atrocious 
nature  have,  we  believe,  been  perpetrated;  all  classes  of 
people  appear  to  be  submissive,  under  the  influence  of 
the  principles  of  moral  rectitude  and  common  justice;  and 
the  resolutions  and  recommendations  of  Congress  have  all 
the  weight  and  efficacy  of  laws.  Our  domestic  tranquillity 
is  in  some  measure  interrupted  by  a  restless  spirit  among 
the  tories;  but  the  great  body  of  the  community  are  actu 
ated  by  the  glorious  cause  of  our  country's  freedom.  The 
maxim  adopted  by  our  enemies  is,  "Divide  and  conquer" 
We  enjoin  the  command,  ll  Unite  and  be  invincible"  It  is 
considered  infinitely  important  to  encourage  and  promote 
a  more  perfect  union  among  the  colonies,  and  harmony  and 
unanimity  among  the  people.  "  Liberty  or  death"  "  Unite 
or  die"  are  the  mottoes  which  blazon  the  chronicles  of  the 
day,  and  embellish  the  military  standards  of  almost  every 
militia  company.  The  man  who  does  not  acquiesce  in  the 
theme  of  liberty  is  marked  by  the  vigilant  eye  of  suspicion, 
or  stigmatized  as  an  enemy  to  his  country.  Liberty-poles 


18  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

are  erected  in  almost  every  town  and  village;  and  when 
a  disaffected  tory  renders  himself  odious,  by  any  active 
conduct,  with  the  view  of  counteracting  the  public  meas 
ures,  he  is  seized  by  a  company  of  armed  men,  and  con 
ducted  to  the  liberty-pole,  under  which  he  is  compelled 
to  sign  a  recantation,  and  give  bonds  for  his  future  good 
conduct.  In  some  instances,  of  particular  stubbornness 
and  obstinacy,  individuals  have  been  imprisoned  or  their 
names  have  been  published  in  the  newspapers  as  enemies 
to  their  country.  It  has  indeed  unfortunately  happened, 
that  a  few  individuals,  in  consequence  of  their  own  indis 
cretion,  have  been  the  subjects  of  a  more  rigorous  proce 
dure.  Having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  those  whose  zeal 
has  transported  them  beyond  the  bounds  of  moderation, 
they  have  received  from  the  rabble  a  coat  of  tar  and 
feathers,  and  in  this  predicament  have  been  exposed  to 
the  scoffs  and  ridicule  of  the  populace.  Such  examples 
have  the  effect  of  striking  terror  into  the  hearts  of  all  the 
disaffected,  and  of  restraining  the  whole  party  from  acting 
against  the  general  sense  of  the  people.  The  tories  make 
bitter  complaints  against  the  discipline  which  they  receive 
from  the  hands  of  the  whigs;  their  language  is,  "You  make 
the  air  resound  with  the  cry  of  liberty,  but  subject  those 
who  differ  from  you  to  the  humble  condition  of  slaves,  not 
permitting  us  to  act,  or  even  think,  according  to  the  dictates 
of  conscience."  The  reply  is,  "It  is  one  of  the  first  princi 
ples  of  a  free  government,  that  the  majority  shall  bear  rule; 
our  majority  is  immensely  large;  we  have  undertaken  the 
hazardous  task  of  defending  the  liberties  of  our  country 
against  the  mighty  power  of  Great  Britian ;  and  hold  our 
selves  responsible  for  our  conduct.  If  you  possess  not  pa 
triotism  and  courage  enough  to  unite  your  efforts  with  ours, 
it  is  our  duty  to  put  it  out  of  your  power  to  injure  the  com 
mon  cause.  If  we  are  successful,  your  party  and  posterity 
will  participate  in  the  important  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  our  efforts.  If  our  party  should  be  crushed,  then  will 
yours  in  turn  become  triumphant."  A  small  number  of 
our  tories  have  abandoned  their  homes,  their  families  and 
property,  and  resorted  to  the  standard  of  their  royal  master 
in  Boston;  consoling  themselves  in  the  confident  expecta 
tion  of  an  ample  reward,  and  a  triumphant  restoration. 
The  clergymen  of  New  England  are,  almost  without  excep- 


HKX.JAMIX    KHAN  KLIN. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  ^9 

tion,  advocates  of  whig  principles;  there  are  a  few  instances 
only  of  the  separation  of  a  minister  from  his  people,  in 
consequence  of  a  disagreement  in  political  sentiment.  The 
tories  censure,  in  a  very  illiberal  manner,  the  preacher 
who  speaks  boldly  for  the  liberties  of  the  people,  while 
they  lavish  their  praises  on  him  who  dares  to  teach  the 
absurd  doctrine,  that  magistrates  have  a  divine  right  to 
do  wrong,  and  are  to  be  implicitly  obeyed.  It  is  recom 
mended  by  our  Provincial  Congress,  that  on  other  occa 
sions  than  the  Sabbath,  ministers  of  parishes  adapt  their 
discourses  to  the  times,  and  explain  the  nature  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty,  and  the  duties  of  magistrates  and  rulers. 
Accordingly,  we  have  from  our  pulpits  the  most  fervent 
and  pious  effusions  to  the  throne  of  Divine  Grace  in  behalf 
of  our  bleeding,  afflicted  country.  A  zealous  divine,  who 
has  been  compelled  to  abandon  the  people  of  his  charge 
in  Boston,  on  one  occasion  used,  in  the  pulpit  at  P***,  the 
following  emphatical  language:  "Oh!  Lord,  if  our  enemies 
will  fight  us,  let  them  have  lighting  enough.  If  more  sol 
diers  are  on  their  way  hither,  sink  them,  O  Lord,  to  the 
bottom  of  the  sea."  Every  heart  seemed  ready  to  respond, 
"Amen,  yea,  let  them  have  fighting  enough." 

June  ~L±th. — General  Gage  has  issued  a  proclamation 
declaring  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  to  be  in  a 
state  of  rebellion,  offering  a  pardon  to  all  who  will  resort 
to  his  standard,  and  denouncing  the  penalty  of  martial  law 
on  all  those  who  refuse  to  submit  to  his  authority,  or  who 
shall  be  found  aiding  or  corresponding  with  such  as  he 
has  designated  as  unpardonable  rebels  and  traitors.  He 
has  been  pleased  to  proscribe  by  name,  Mr.  John  Hancock 
and  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  as  objects  of  his  exemplary  ven 
geance.  Yet,  singular  at  it  may  appear,  this  same  author 
ized  governor,  and  general-in-chief  of  the  royal  army, 
is  now  cooped  up  in  the  town  of  Boston,  panting  for  a 
country  airing,  of  which  he  is  debarred  by  his  denounced 
rebels. 

We  are  again  shocked  by  intelligence  that  a  terrible 
battle  has  been  fought  between  the  British  regulars  and 
the  American  soldiers,  on  Bunker,  or  rather  Breed's  hill, 
in  Charlestown,  near  Boston,  on  the  17th  instant.  The 
report  states  that  the  whole  town  of  Charlestown  is  burnt 
to  ashes  by  the  enemy,  and  that  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  lately 


20  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

appointed  major-general  in  our  army,  is  killed;  and  that 
several  hundreds  of  our  soldiers  are  killed  and  wounded. 
The  battle,  it  is  said,  was  extremely  severe  and  destructive; 
but  the  provincial  troops  displayed  the  greatest  courage 
and  bravery,  in  the  face  of  the  regulars,  and  have  obtained 
immortal  honor.  The  British  were  several  times  defeated 
before  they  took  possession  of  our  works,  and  have  suf 
fered  a  loss  of  more  than  a  thousand  of  their  best  troops; 
among  whom  are  a  large  proportion  of  their  most  valua 
ble  officers.  They  are  now  taught  that  Americans  can  bid 
defiance  to  royal  regulars,  when  called  to  defend  their 
freedom.  The  situation  of  our  country  is  truly  deplora 
ble,  a  civil  war  at  our  doors;  our  neighbors,  our  fathers 
and  brothers,  called  from  their  families  to  encounter  an 
inexorable  enemy,  consisting  indeed  of  brethren  and  kin 
dred;  our  domestic  peace  and  welfare  cruelly  interrupted, 
and  the  aspect  of  our  public  affairs  gloomy  in  the  extreme. 
All  New  England  has  become  a  theatre  of  military  array; 
and  every  member  of  the  community  manifests  the  deepest 
concern  for  the  great  calamities  with  which  the  country  is 
afflicted,  by  the  tyrannical  measures  of  a  corrupt  admin 
istration.  In  the  favor  of  Heaven  and  the  wisdom  of  our 
Congress  we  repose  all  our  hope  and  confidence.  Par 
ticipating,  I  trust,  in  the  glorious  spirit  of  the  times,  and 
contemplating  improvement  in  my  professional  pursuits, 
motives  of  patriotism  and  private  interest  prompt  me  to 
hazard  my  fortune  in  this  noble  conflict  with  my  brethren 
in  the  provincial  army.  From  the  critical  and  embarrassed 
situation  of  our  country,  numerous  and  almost  insurmount 
able  difficulties  are  opposed  to  my  view;  and  lam  too 
young  to  possess  a  maturity  of  judgment,  but  yet  unable 
to  resist  the  impulse  of  enthusiasm  which  characterizes 
the  times.  My  friends  afford  me  no  encouragement,  alleg 
ing  that,  as  this  is  a  civil  war,  if  I  should  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  British,  the  gallows  will  be  my  fate.  The 
terrors  of  the  gallows  are  not  to  be  conquered,  but  I  must 
indulge  the  hope  that  I  may  escape  it.  Hundreds  of  my 
superiors  may  take  their  turn  before  mine  shall  come.  The 
tories  assail  me  with  the  following  powerful  arguments: 
"Young  man,  are  you  sensible  you  are  about  to  violate 
your  duty  to  the  best  of  kings,  and  run  headlong  into  de 
struction?  Be  assured  that  this  rebellion  will  be  of  short 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1775.  21 

duration.  The  royal  army  is  all-powerful,  and  will,  in  a 
few  months,  march  through  the  country  and  bring  all  to 
subjection;  for  they  are  experienced  in  war  and  expert  in 
discipline.  Their  fleet  is  able  to  destroy  every  seaport 
town  and  beat  down  all  our  cities.  There  remains  no 
rational  alternative  but  a  reconciliation  and  renewed  obe 
dience  to  our  lawful  government;  or  we  shall  soon  expe 
rience  their  just  vengeance.  What  is  your  army  but  an' 
undisciplined  rabble  ?  Can  they  stand  against  an  army  of 
regulars?  Where  are  your  cannon,  your  fire-arms,  your 
bayonets,  and  all  your  implements  of  war?  Above  all, 
where  is  your  treasure,  and  where  can  you  look  for  a  bar 
rel  of  gunpowder?  The  whole  country  can  scarcely  afford 
a  sufficiency  for  a  battle  of  an  hour."  'Not  a  small  portion 
of  their  reasoning  I  feel  to  be  just  and  true.  I  am  not 
certain,  however,  but  much  of  it  may  prove  erroneous. 
The  result  of  the  late  battle  at  Charlestown  should  con 
vince  the  most  incredulous  tory  that  our  soldiers  will  face 
the  regular  troops,  and  \ve  are  blessed  with  the  smiles  of 
Heaven  on  our  exertions.  It  would  be  presumption  in 
me  to  determine  as  to  possibilities  and  prospects;  but  the 
voice  of  liberty  cannot  be  stifled,  while  the  welfare  and 
happiness  of  more  than  three  millions  of  people  now  in 
America,  and  of  unborn  millions,  are  involved  in  the  issue. 
Our  rulers  are  the  most  competent  judges,  and  under  their 
banners  I  shall  venture,  I  hope  not  rashly,  to  enlist,  and 
trust  my  destiny  in  the  hands  of  a  kind  and  overruling 
Providence.  My  contemplated  enterprise,  it  is  true,  re 
quires  the  experience  and  resolution  of  riper  years  than 
twenty-one,  and  qualifications,  which  I  do  not  possess,  to 
ingratiate  myself  with  strangers  and  those  in  authority. 
Having  consulted  Joseph  Otis,  Esq.  of  Barnstable,  on  this 
occasion,  he  immediately  applauded  my  enterprise,  and 
politely  furnished  me  with  a  letter  to  his  brother-in-law, 
James  Warren,  Esq.  of  Plymouth,  who  is  President  of 
our  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown.  Imagination 
could  not  fail  to  paint  my  prospects  in  bright  colors,  and 
I  proceeded,  July  the  3d,  with  alacrity  to  the  seat  of  Con 
gress.  I  was  not  disappointed  in  my  interview  with  Mr. 
Warren ;  my  letter  procured  for  me  a  favorable  and  polite 
reception.  He  honored  me  with  his  friendship  and  kind 
assistance,  and  introduced  me  to  his  lady,  whose  father's 


22  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

family  and  my  own,  have  for  many  years  been  on  terms 
of  friendly  intercourse.  The  office  which  I  solicit  is  one 
in  the  medical  department,  in  the  provincial  hospital  at 
Cambridge.  A  medical  board,  consisting  of  Drs.  Holton 
arid  Taylor,  are  appointed  to  examine  the  candidates;  and 
they  added  rny  name  to  the  list  for  examination,  on  the 
10th  instant.  This  state  of  suspense  continuing  several 
days,  excites  in  my  mind  much  anxiety  and  solicitude, 
apprehending  that  rny  stock  of  medical  knowledge,  when 
scanned  by  a  learned  committee,  may  be  deemed  inade 
quate,  and  all  my  hopes  be  blasted.  While  on  my  journey, 
a  visit  of  a  few  days  to  my  friends  at  Plymouth  gave  me 
an  opportunity  to  pay  my  respects  to  the  rock  which  re 
ceived  the  first  footsteps  of  our  venerated  forefathers. 
The  inhabitants  of  this  ancient  town,  from  a  reverence 
for  the  memory  of  the  virtuous  band  of  brothers  from 
whom  we  derive  our  origin,  have  lately,  with  commend 
able  zeal  and  much  labor,  split  off  the  upper  portion  of 
the  rock,  and  removed  it  to  a  public  square  near  the  church 
and  court-house.  This  rock,  with  its  associations,  would 
seem  almost  capable  of  imparting  that  love  of  country, 
and  that  moral  virtue,  which  our  times  so  much  require. 
We  seem  holding  converse  with  the  celestial  spirits,  and 
receiving  monition  from  those  who  are  at  rest  in  their 
graves.  Have  these  ancient  sages  bequeathed  their  mantle 
to  posterity?  Can  we  set  our  feet  on  their  rock  without 
swearing,  by  the  spirit  of  our  fathers,  to  defend  it  and 
our  country?  If  we  reflect  on  their  matchless  enterprise, 
their  fortitude,  and  their  sufferings,  we  must  be  inspired 
with  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  the  most  invincible  hero 
ism.  Unappalled  by  the  dangers  of  unknown  seas,  and 
the  perils  and  the  hardships  of  a  savage  wilderness,  they 
left  their  native  country,  and  undertook  a  settlement  which, 
promises,  through  ages,  to  remain  the  rich  abode  of  knowl 
edge,  religion,  virtue  and  freedom.  Let  us,  then,  cherish 
a  becoming  sense  of  the  exalted  privileges  inherited  from 
our  ancestors,  and  resolve  to  defend  them  against  all  at 
tempts  Kof  a  corrupt  administration. 

July. — I  improve  the  interim  of  my  suspense  to  record 

an  authentic  narrative  of  the  battle  on  Breed's  hill,  on  the 

17th  of  June.     Intelligence  had  been  received  that  it  was 

he  intention  of  General  Gage  to  post  a  part  of  his  troops, 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1775.  23 

within  a  few  days,  on  a  promontory  just  at  the  entrance 
of  the  peninsula  at  Charlestown,  called  Bunker's  hill,  It 
was  deemed  important  that  our  troops  should  possess  them 
selves  of  this  eminence,  before  the  enemy  could  occupy  it. 
Accordingly  orders  were  given  to  Colonel  Prescott,  a  vet 
eran  of  the  last  war,  with  one  thousand  men,  to  march 
silently  in  the  evening  of  16th  of  June,  and  throw  up 
some  intrenchments  on  the  height  of  Bunker's  hill.  By 
some  mistake  they  took  possession  of  Breed's  hill,  which, 
being  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  nearer  Boston,  was  less 
capable  of  being  defended.  From  some  cause,  the  detach 
ment  was  always  delayed  in  their  labor,  till  twelve  o'clock ; 
but  such  was  their  alacrity,  that  before  day-light  they  had 
formed  a  small  redoubt  and  some  imperfect  line  of  deifence. 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  British  were  aston 
ished  to  behold  the  works  which  had  been  thrown  up  in 
a  single  night,  within  a  short  distance  of  their  vessels, 
without  giving  the  least  alarm.  They  immediately  com 
menced  a  tremendous  cannonade  from  their  shipping,  their 
floating  batteries,  and  from  all  their  fortifications,  which 
could  have  a  bearing  on  the  American  works.  Bombs 
and  shot  were  incessantly  rolling  among  the  provincials 
during  the  forenoon,  till  the  royal  grenadiers  and  light  in 
fantry  could  be  prepared  to  make  their  formidable  attack ; 
yet  one  man  only  was  killed;  and  the  Americans  cour 
ageously  persevered  in  strengthening  their  works.  They 
received  in  the  course  of  the  forenoon  a  small  reinforce 
ment,  which  augmented  their  number  to  about  fifteen  hun 
dred,  and  this  was  not  much  exceeded  during  the  day  of 
battle.  It  was  by  an  unaccountable  error  that  those  people, 
who  had  been  laboring  all  the  night,  were  not  relieved  by 
others,  nor  even  furnished  with  provisions  before  the  battle. 
Generals  Putnam,  "Warren  and  Pomeroy,  animated  and 
encouraged  the  troops  with  their  presence.  At  about  one 
o'clock,  17th  of  June,  the  royal  forces  were  observed  to 
cross  the  river  from  Boston,  and  land  on  the  shore  at 
Charlestown;  at  the  head  of  these  veterans  were  Major- 
General  Howe  and  Brigadier-General  Pigot;  their  force 
consisted  of  about  three  thousand  men,  well  provided  with 
field-artillery.  They  formed  in  two  lines,  their  officers  ha 
ranguing  them  probably  in  such  language  as  this:  "Those 
cowardly  rebels  must  and  shall  be  put  to  flight.  See  the 


24:  MILITARY  JOI  RNAL,  1775. 

dastardly  Yankees  with  rusty  guns  and  scarcely  a  bayonet 
among  them.  March  on,  my  lads,  march  on!  show  them 
that  you  are  Britons;  show  them  these  dazzling  arms  and 
bayonets  bright  and  sharp,  and  you  shall  soon  see  them 
take  to  their  heels  and  run."  Hear  the  voice  of  Putnam, 
of  Prescott  and  Warren:  "See,  my  brave  soldiers,  that 
phalanx  approaching;  these  lines  must  and  shall  be  de 
fended  ;  these  are  the  cruel  enemies  to  your  freedom ;  they 
have  come  to  enslave  you ;  remember  their  barbarous  mur 
ders  of  our  friends  at  Lexington;  fight  manfully,  and 
they  shall  be  vanquished;  reserve  your  fire  till  their  near 
approach;  then  with  a  sure  aim  cut  them  down,  and  the 
victory  shall  be  ours."  The  regulars  deliberately  advance 
to  the  attack,  the  grenadiers  in  front.  The  Americans 
reserve  their  fire  till  the  enemy  are  within  eight  or  ten 
rods,  that  they  may  do  effectual  execution;  when,  by  a 
general  discharge  of  musketry  and  field-artillery,  several 
officers  and  men  are  seen  to  fall,  "their  ranks  are  thinned; 
see  the  ground  covered  with  the  slain ;  see  those  wounded 
officers  borne  off  the  field."  The  conflict  becomes  close, 
and  such  are  the  fatal  effects  of  the  incessant  and  furious 
discharge  of  our  musketry,  that  the  regulars  retreat  in 
disorder,  and  many  of  them  flee  even  to  their  boats.  The 
officers,  greatly  agitated,  pursue  their  men,  and  threaten 
them  with  their  swords;  with  great  difficulty  they  are 
rallied,  and  commanded  to  advance  again  to  the  attack. 
The  provincials  are  prepared,  and  when  sufficiently  near, 
a  deadly  fire  from  their  ranks  puts  the  enemy  a  second 
time  to  flight,  leaving  such  numbers  of  dead  and  wounded 
that  several  of  their  officers  exclaim,  "It  is  downright 
butchery  to  lead  the  men  on  afresh  against  the  lines."  At 
this  critical  moment  Major- General  Clinton,  who  till  now 
had  been  a  spectator  with  General  Burgoyne  on  Copp's  hill 
in  Boston,  passed  over  and  entered  the  field,  just  in  time 
to  unite  his  efforts  with  those  of  the  other  officers  for  the 
purpose  of  forcing  the  regulars  to  renew  the  attack.  The 
Americans  still  remain  firm  and  courageous  at  their  posts ; 
but  unfortunately  it  was  now  discovered  that  their  powder 
was  nearly  expended,  and  another  supply  could  not  be 
procured.  The  enemy  now  change  the  position  of  their 
cannon,  and  place  them  in  a  situation  to  rake  the  inside 
of  our  breastwork  in  its  whole  course,  which  at  length 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  35 

obliges  the  provincials  to  retire  within  their  little  redoubt. 
The  firing  from  the  British  ships,  and  other  armed  vessels 
and  batteries,  is  now  pushed  to  the  utmost  extremity;  the 
regulars  are  impelled  forward  by  their  officers,  and  our 
redoubt  is  attacked  on  three  sides  at  the  same  time.  Our 
brave  men  continue  their  resistance,  and  actually  confront 
the  enemy  with  the  butt-end  of  their  muskets  after  they 
had  entered  the  fort.  A  party  of  our  men  under  command 
of  Captain  Knowlton  had  taken  up  a  post  and  rail  fence, 
and  placing  it  against  another,  filled  the  vacancy  with 
newly  mowed  hay,  which  served  as  a  slight  defence.  The 
British  light  infantry  attempted  to  force  this  little  party 
from  their  stand,  and  by  this  means  to  cut  off  the  retreat 
of  our  troops.  In  this  they  displayed  the  greatest  bravery, 
but  their  opposers  poured  forth  their  reserved  and  formi 
dable  fire  in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  astonishing 
execution,  and  to  arrest  their  progress,  till  the  whole  of 
the  Americans  could  effect  a  retreat.  The  narrow  neck 
of  land  over  which  alone  the  provincials  could  retire,  was 
so  securely  guarded  by  a  man  of  war  and  two  floating 
batteries,  as  to  render  it  extremely  hazardous  to  pass  over; 
but  notwithstanding  their  incessant  firing,  our  loss  there 
was  quite  inconsiderable.  The  provincials  were  obliged 
to  leave  five  pieces  of  field-artillery  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  finding  it  impossible  to  remove  them.  But  a  loss 
infinitely  to  be  lamented,  and  which  occasions  universal 
grief  and  sorrow,  is  that  of  Major-General  Joseph  War 
ren.  This  distinguished  patriot  and  hero  was,  but  a  few 
days  before,  appointed  by  Congress  to  the  rank  of  major- 
general  in  our  army.  Such  was  his  zeal  and  ardor,  that 
he  rushed  into  the  battle  foremost  in  danger  with  his 
musket,  and  encouraged  the  soldiers  by  his  example,  till 
near  the  close  of  the  battle,  when  he  received  a  fatal  shot, 
and  immediately  expired.  The  loss  at  this  crisis  of  a 
man  possessing  so  much  public  virtue  and  military  ardor 
is  almost  irreparable.  But  the  valor  with  which  he  is 
signalized  reflects  glory  on  his  memory.  It  yet  remains 
to  mention  that  on  this  ever-memorable  day,  just  at  the 
commencement  of  the  battle,  General  Howe  ordered  the 
handsome  town  of  Charlestown  to  be  set  on  fire,  that  the 
smoke  might  conceal  their  manoeuvres.  The  town  con 
sisted  of  upwards  of  three  hundred  dwelling-houses,  some 


26  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

of  them  elegant,  and  about  two  hundred  buildings  of  other 
descriptions,  which  contained  property  and  goods  to  a 
large  amount,  belonging  to  the  distressed  inhabitants  of 
Boston.  Fire  was  communicated  to  a  number  of  houses, 
which,  being  wafted  by  the  wind,  soon  reached  the  sacred 
temple,  when  the  flames  issued  from  its  lofty  spire;  while 
from  the  conflagration  and  the  embattled  field,  smoke 
mingled  with  smoke  in  majestic  columns,  and  ascended 
to  the  clouds.  This,  with  the  roaring  of  cannon,  sheets 
of  fire  from  the  musketry,  and  the  awful  slaughter,  formed 
a  spectacle  which  for  sublimity  and  grandeur  has  never 
perhaps  been  exceeded.  This  most  dreadful  scene,  with 
all  its  concomitant  horrors,  was  within  view  of  a  vast  con 
course  of  agonized  spectators,  posted  on  the  tops  of  houses 
and  steeples  in  Boston,  and  on  numerous  surrounding  hills, 
hundreds  of  whom  were  trembling  for  the  fate  of  a  parent, 
a  husband  or  a  brother.  Well  might  a  devout  person 
exclaim,  "Good  Heavens!  what  a  scene  do  I  behold!  what 
carnage  of  the  human  race!  what  sacrifice  of  precious  life. 
My  God!  stay  thy  hand,  restrain  a  further  effusion  of 
human  blood,  spare  the  innocent,  let  punishment  fall  on 
the  heads  of  the  guilty.  Is  there  not  some  hidden  curse 
in  reserve  for  our  country's  foes!"  At  the  head  of  the 
British  army  General  Howe  advanced  with  undaunted 
bravery,  continually  pressing  into  the  most  exposed  situa 
tion.  It  is  truly  wonderful  that  he  escaped  with  only  a 
wound  in  his  foot.  The  valiant  Major  Pitcairn,  who  was. 
so  conspicuously  active  at  Lexington,  was  among  the  first 
who  mounted  our  breastworks,  and  at  the  moment  when 
he  was  heard  to  exclaim,  "the  day  is  ours,"  the  fatal  ball 
pierced  his  body  and  he  fell.  His  son,  a  captain,  received 
him  in  his  arms,  with  all  the  ardor  of  filial  love  and  tender 
sympathy,  and  bore  him  to  the  boat,  where  he  expired. 
On  the  American  side,  Generals  Putnam,  Warren,  Pom- 
eroy,  and  Colonel  Prescott  were  emphatically  the  heroes 
of  the  day,  and  their  unexampled  efforts  were  crowned 
with  glory.  The  incomparable  Colonel  Prescott  marched 
at  the  head  of  the  detachment,  and  though  several  general 
officers  were  present,  he  retained  the  command  during  the 
action.  He  displayed  a  native  daring  bravery  altogether 
unrivalled,  and  infused  the  conquering  spirit  of  a  soldier 
into  the  hearts  of  all  who  were  under  his  command,  and 


JOIIX   HANCOCK. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  27 

crowned  himself  with  immortal  honor.  Colonel  John 
Stark  commanded  a  regiment  from  New  Hampshire,  and 
signalized  himself  by  his  active  bravery.  His  very  valiant 
Major  McClary  was  killed  by  a  cannon-ball  while  recross- 
ing  Charlestown  neck,  which  is  lamented  as  a  public  loss. 
On  this  never-to-be-forgotten  occasion  a  fair  opportunity 
was  presented  for  the  trial  of  the  courage  and  prowess  of 
the  people  of  New  England,  when  contending  for  their 
constitutional  freedom.  They  marched  to  the  field  as  an 
undisciplined,  inexperienced  body  of  yeomanry,  rather 
than  as  professed  warriors;  a  large  majority  of  them  carry 
ing  ordinary  fire-arms,  unprovided  with  bayonets,  and 
habited  in  the  style  of  country  laborers.  It  was  their  lot 
to  contend  with  an  army  of  disciplined  veterans,  profess 
edly  experienced  in  the  art  of  warfare,  uniformly  clothed 
and  armed,  and  commanded  by  generals  whose  names, 
even  in  Europe,  are  little  less  than  a  host. 

The  comparative  force  of  the  two  armies  was  about  two 
to  one  against  the  provincials,  besides  the  royal  artillery, 
ships,  and  other  arrned  vessels.  What  in  fact  is  the  result 
of  this  most  unequal  combat?  Certain  it  is,  that  on  the 
first  and  the  second  onset,  the  veterans  were  fairly  repulsed, 
and  whatever  advantage  was  ultimately  obtained,  was  at 
the  expense  of  some  of  their  most  valuable  officers  and 
the  flower  of  the  British  grenadiers  and  light  infantry. 
These  two  corps,  at  the  moment  of  their  first  onset,  lost 
three-fourths  of  their  number;  of  one  company  five,  and 
of  another,  fourteen  only  escaped.  The  remarkable  dis 
parity  of  loss  is  a  clear  demonstration  of  the  superior 
advantage  on  our  side.  It  is  an  ascertained  fact,  that  of 
the  enemy  nineteen  commissioned  officers  were  killed  and 
seventy  wounded;  and  their  total  loss,  according  to  Gen 
eral  Gage,  was  one  thousand  and  fifty-four.  Of  the  pro 
vincials,  the  killed  and  dead  of  their  wounds,  are  one 
hundred  and  thirty-nine.  Other  wounded,  two  hundred 
and  seventy-eight.  Prisoners  by  the  enemy,  thirty-six. 
Total,  four  hundred  and  fifty-three.  The  provincials  have 
much  reason  to  triumph  on  the  successful  issue  of  this 
first  general  conflict  with  veteran  troops;  it  must  tend 
greatly  to  increase  their  confidence  in  their  own  powers, 
and  give  them  a  serious  impression  that  we  are  favored 
with  the  smiles  of  Heaven.  Had  our  troops  been  furnished 
3 


28  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  ammunition,  the  enemy  must 
have  suffered  a  total  defeat.  .  After  our  troops  retreated, 
the  regulars  took  possession  of  their  dear-bought  Bunker's 
hill,  and  immediately  fortified  themselves  there.  It  is 
said  that  some  of  the  veteran  British  officers,  who  have 
been  in  some  hard-fought  battles  in  Europe,  observed,  that 
they  bad  never  witnessed  any  one  equal  in  severity  to  that 
on  Breed's  bill.  It  is  presumed  they  will  no  longer  apply 
the  term  poltroons  to  American  soldiers.  A  considerable 
number  of  tories,  whose  zeal  for  the  royal  cause  led  them 
into  battle,  were  killed  or  wounded.  Our  army  has  taken 
post  at  Cambridge  and  Koxbury,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
invest  the  town  of  Boston.  Our  general  officers  are  Gen 
erals  Ward,  Pomeroy,  Thomas  and  Heath,  of  Massachu 
setts  colony,  and  General  Putnam  from  Connecticut. 
r*-  On  the  day  appointed,  the  medical  candidates,  sixteen 
•  in  number,  were  summoned  before  the  board  for  examin 
ation.  This  business  occupied  about  four  hours;  the  sub 
jects  were  anatomy,  physiology,  surgery  and  medicine. 
It  was  not  long  after,  that  I  was  happily  relieved  from 
suspense,  by  receiving  the  sanction  and  acceptance  of  the 
board,  with  some  acceptable  instructions  relative  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  duty,  and  the  humane  treatment  of 
those  soldiers  who  may  have  the  misfortune  to  require 
my  assistance.  Six  of  our  number  were  privately  rejected 
as  being  found  unqualified.  The  examination  was  in  a 
considerable  degree  close  and  severe,  which  occasioned 
not  a  little  agitation  in  our  ranks.  But  it  was  on  another 
occasion,  as  I  am  told,  that  a  candidate  under  examination 
was  agitated  into  a  state  of  perspiration,  and  being  required 
to  describe  the  mode  of  treatment  in  rheumatism,  among 
other  remedies  he  would  promote  a  sweat,  and  being  asked 
how  he  would  effect  this  with  his  patient,  after  some  hes 
itation  he  replied,  "I  would  have  him  examined  by  a 
medical  committee."  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  the 
oflice  of  surgeon's  mate  in  the  provincial  hospital  at  Cam 
bridge,  Dr.  John  Warren  being  the  senior  surgeon.  He 
was  the  brother  and  pupil  of  the  gallant  General  Joseph 
Warren,  who  was  slain  in  the  memorable  battle  on  Breed's 
hill.  This  gentleman  has  acquired  great  reputation  in  his 
profession,  and  is  distinguished  for  his  humanity  and  at 
tention  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  and  for  his 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  29 

amiable  disposition.  Having  received  my  appointment"? 
by  the  Provincial  Congress,  I  commenced  my  duty  in  the 
hospital,  July  loth.  Several  private,  but  commodious, 
houses  in  Cambridge  are  occupied  for  hospitals,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  soldiers  who  were  wounded  at 
Breed's  hill,  and  a  greater  number  of  sick  of  various  dis 
eases,  require  all. our  attention.  Dr.  Isaac  Foster,  late  of 
Charlestown,  is  also  appointed  a  senior  hospital  surgeon ; 
and  his  student,  Mr.  Josiah  Bartlet,  officiates  as  his  mate; 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church  is  director-general  of  the  hospital.  - 
I  am  informed  that  General  George  Washington  arrived 
at  our  provincial  camp,  in  this  town,  on  the  2d  July; 
having  been  appointed,  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the 
Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  general  and  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  all  the  troops  raised,  and  to  be  raised, 
for  the  defence  of  the  United  Colonies,  as  they  are  now 
termed.  They  are,  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina,  and  Georgia.  General  Washington  is  a  native 
of  Virginia;  he  was  in  General  Braddock's  defeat  in  1755, 
and  having  had  considerable  experience  in  the  wars  with 
the  French  and  Indians  on  the  frontiers  of  that  colony,  in 
former  years,  he  is  supposed  to  possess  ample  qualifica 
tions  for  the  command  of  our  army,  and  the  appointment 
gives  universal  satisfaction.  Such  is  his  disinterested  pa 
triotism,  that  he  assured  Congress,  on  his  appointment, 
that  he  should  receive  from  the  public,  for  his  military 
services,  no  other  compensation  than  the  amount  of  his 
necessary  expenses.  He  has  been  received  here  with  every 
mark  of  respect,  and  addressed  by  our  Provincial  Congress 
in  the  most  affectionate  and  respectful  manner.  All  ranks 
appear  to  repose  full  confidence  in  him  as  Commander-in- 
chief;  it  is  the  fervent  prayer  of  the  religiously  disposed, 
that  he  may  be  instrumental  in  bringing  this  unhappy 
controversy  to  an  honorable  and  speedy  termination.  He 
is  accompanied  by  General  Lee  and  General  Gates;  two 
gentlemen  who  have  held  commissions  in  the  royal  army. 
The  former  is  now  appointed  major-general,  and  the  latter 
adjutant-general,  by  our  Continental  Congress.  General 
Washington  has  established  his  head-quarters  in  a  conve 
nient  house,  about  half  a  mile  from  Harvard  College,  and 


30  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

in  the  vicinity  of  our  hospital.  The  provincial  army  is 
encamped  in  various  parts  of  this  town  and  Eoxbury,  and 
some  works  have  been  erected  on  Prospect  hill,  and  on 
an  eminence  near  Eoxbury  church,  within  cannon-shot 
of  Boston.  The  amount  of  our  forces  I  have  not  ascer 
tained;  but  we  are  daily  increasing  in  numbers,  both  of 
militia  and  enlisted  soldiers.  The  operations  of  the  war 
have  interrupted  the  progress  of  education  at  college;  the 
students  have  returned  to  their  homes,  and  the  college 
buildings  are  occupied  by  our  soldiery. 

July  20th. — This  day  is  devoted  to  a  Public  Fast 
throughout  the  United  Colonies,  by  the  recommendation  of 
Congress,  to  implore  the  Divine  benediction  on  our  coun 
try;  that  any  further  shedding  of  blood  may  be  averted; 
and  that  the  calamities  with  which  we  are  afflicted  may 
be  removed.  This  is  the  first  general  or  Continental  Fast 
ever  observed  since  the  settlement  of  the  colonies.  I  have 
been  much  gratified  this  day  with  a  view  of  General 
Washington.  His  excellency  was  on  horseback,  in  com 
pany  with  several  military  gentlemen.  It  was  not  difficult 
to  distinguish  him  from  all  others;  his  personal  appearance 
is  truly  noble  and  majestic;  being  tall  and  well  propor 
tioned.  His  dress  is  a  blue  coat  with  buff-colored  facings, 
a  rich  epaulette  on  each  shoulder,  buff  under  dress,  and 
an  elegant  small  sword ;  a  black  cockade  in  his  hat. 

August. — The  firing  of  cannon  is  now  frequently  prac 
tised  from  our  works  at  Prospect  hill  and  Winter  hill, 
advantageous  eminences  in  full  view  and  within  cannon- 
shot  of  the  enemy's  camp  on  Bunker's  hill;  and  some  shot 
are  returned  from  the  enemy;  but  without  any  considera 
ble  loss.  At  Eoxbury  also  our  people  have  fortified  sev 
eral  hills,  and  breastworks  are  thrown  up  across  the  main 
street,  within  half  a  mile  of  the  British  lines;  from  which 
cannon-shot  and  some  bomb-shells  are  every  day  thrown 
into  Boston.  The  enemy  fire  their  cannon-shot  into  Eox 
bury,  and  several  have  passed  through  the  church;  but 
little  damage  has  yet  been  sustained,  and  our  soldiers  be 
come  so  familiarized  to  the  sight  of  cannon-shot  rolling 
among  them,  that  they  manifest  little  or  no  fear  of  the 
consequences.  The  right  wing  of  our  army  at  Eoxbury 
is  commanded  by  Major-General  Ward;  and  the  left  at 
Prospect  hill,  by  Major-General  Lee. 


CAPTAIN   BENJAMIN   CHURCH. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775.  g]_ 

The  Continental  Congress  having  voted,  "That  a  sum 
not  exceeding  two  millions  of  Spanish  milled  dollars  be 
emitted  by  them  in  bills  of  credit  for  the  defence  of  Amer 
ica,"  gold  and  silver  soon  disappeared,  and  paper  bills  now 
circulate  instead  of  specie. 

Several  companies  of  riflemen,  amounting,  it  is  said,  to 
more  than  fourteen  hundred  men,  have  arrived  here  from 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland;  a  distance  of  from  five  hun 
dred  to  seven  hundred  miles.  They  are  remarkably  stout 
and  hardy  men;  many  of  them  exceeding  six  feet  in 
height.  They  are  dressed  in  white  frocks,  or  rifle-shirts, 
and  round  hats.  These  men  are  remarkable  for  the  accu 
racy  of  their  aim;  striking  a  mark  with  great  certainty  at 
two  hundred  yards  distance.  At  a  review,  a  company  of 
them,  while  on  a  quick  advance,  fired  their  balls  into 
objects  of  seven  inches  diameter,  at  the  distance  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards.  They  are  now  stationed  on  our 
lines,  and  their  shot  have  frequently  proved  fatal  to  British 
officers  and  soldiers  who  expose  themselves  to  view,  even 
at  more  than  double  the  distance  of  common  musket-shot. 

October. — An  event  of  considerable  importance  has  oc 
curred,  which  occasions  much  surprise  and  speculation. 
Dr.  Benjamin  Church  has  long  sustained  high  reputation 
as  a  patriot  and  son  of  liberty.  lie  has,  for  some  time, 
been  a  member  of  our  House  of  Eepresentatives;  and  has 
been  appointed  surgeon-general  and  director  of  our  hos 
pitals.  This  gentleman  has  just  been  detected  in  a  trait 
orous  correspondence  with  the  enemy  in  Boston.  A  letter 
in  cipher,  written  by  him,  was  intrusted  to  the  care  of  a 
female,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted,  to  be  conveyed 
to  Boston.  On  examination,  the  woman  absolutely  refused 
to  reveal  the  name  of  the  writer,  till  she  was  terrified  by 
the  threats  of  severe  punishment;  when  she  named  Dr. 
Church,  he  was  greatly  agitated  and  confounded,  manifested 
marks  of  guilt,  and  made  no  attempt  to  vindicate  himself. 
But  after  the  letter  was  deciphered,  and  he  had  taken  time 
to  reflect,  he  used  all  his  powers  of  persuasion  to  make  it 
appear  that  the  letter  contained  no  information  that  would 
injure  the  American  cause;  and  made  a  solemn  appeal  to 
Heaven  that  it  was  written  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
some  important  intelligence  from  the  enemy.  He  was 
tried,  convicted,  and  expelled  from  the  House  of  Repre- 


32 


MILITARY  JOrENAL,  1775. 


sentativcs;  and  Congress  afterwards  resolved,  "that  he 
be  closely  confined  in  some  secure  jail  in  Connecticut, 
without  the  use  of  pen,  ink,  or  paper;  and  that  no  person 
be  allowed  to  converse  with  him,  except  in  the  presence 
and  hearing  of  a  magistrate,  or  the  sheriff  of  the  county."* 

I  have  just  returned  from  a  ramble  to  Roxbury,  with  a 
view  of  examining  the  camp  and  works  in  that  quarter. 
Not  meeting  with  any  person  with  whom  I  am  acquainted, 
I  returned  after  a  slight  view  of  the  lines  and  the  church 
in  that  town,  which  is  pierced  through  in  many  places  by 
cannon-shot  from  the  enemy. 

~LOtk. — General  Gage  has  sailed  for  England;  and  the 
command  of  the  army,  has  devolved  on  General  William 
Howe.  He  has  issued  a  proclamation,  prohibiting  all 
persons  attempting  to  quit  the  town,  without  a  written 
license,  on  penalty  of  military  execution,  if  taken,  and  if 
they  escape  they  are  to  be  proceeded  against  as  traitors, 
and  their  effects  to  be  forfeited;  and  also  declaring,  that 
if  any,  who  are  licensed  to  depart,  attempt  carrying  away 
more  than  five  pounds  in  specie,  they  shall  forfeit  the 
whole  sum  discovered,  beside  suffering  fine  and  imprison 
ment.  Such  is  the  wretched  condition  of  the  Bostonians 
since  their  native  town  has  been  converted  into  a  royal 
garrison.  It  is  recollected  that  in  April  last,  it  was  agreed 
between  General  Gage  and  a  committee  of  the  town,  that 
on  the  inhabitants  in  general  surrendering  up  their  fire 
arms  to  the  care  of  the  selectmen,  all  such  inhabitants  as 
were  desirous  of  removing  out  of  town,  should  have  this 
liberty,  with  their  families  and  effects.  The  town  voted 
to  comply  with  this  proposal,  and  General  Gage  on  his 
part  confirmed  the  same.  It  was  also  stipulated,  that  those 
persons  in  the  country  who  should  incline  to  remove  into 
Boston  should  be  permitted  to  change  their  residence  with 
out  molestation.  The  fire-arms  were  accordingly  surren 
dered,  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  were  allowed  to  depart; 
but  it  was  not  long  before  General  Gage  found  various 
pretences  to  violate  his  stipulation,  and  prohibited  any 
further  removals;  in  consequence  of  which,  many  families 
were  compelled  to  a  cruel  separation ;  husbands  and  wives, 

*  Dr.  Church  was  finally  permitted  to  depart  from  the  country.  He 
and  his  family  embarked  for  the  West  Indies;  the  vessel  foundered  at 
sea,  and  all  were  lost. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1775.  33 

parents  and  children,  were  separated,  and  the  aged  and 
infirm  left  without  protection. 

The  term  for  which  the  continental  soldiers  enlisted  will 
expire  in  a  few  weeks,  and  it  is  understood  that  the  re 
cruits  for  a  future  army  will  be  enlisted  to  serve  to  the  1st 
of  December  next,  unless  sooner  discharged,  as  hopes  are 
yet  entertained  that  a  settlement  of  our  difficulties  with 
Great  Britain  may  be  effected.  Reports  are  in  circulation 
that  an  attack  on  the  town  of  Boston  is  contemplated;  or, 
that  the  plan  has  been  agitated  and  is  relinquished,  till  our 
people  can  pass  over  on  the  ice.  The  public  appear  to 
be  impatient  to  have  our  inveterate  enemies  expelled  from 
our  territories. 

November. — Our  hospitals  are  considerably  crowded  with 
sick  soldiers  from  camp;  the  prevailing  diseases  are  au 
tumnal  fevers  and  dysenteric  complaints,  which  have 
proved  fatal  in  a  considerable  number  of  instances.  It  is 
highly  gratifying  to  observe,  that  these  brave  men,  while 
in  the  service  of  their  country,  receive  in  sickness  all  the 
kind  attention  from  physicians  and  nurses,  which  their 
circumstances  require;  they  have  the  prayers  and  conso 
lations  of  pious  clergymen,  and  are  destitute  of  nothing 
but  the  presence  of  their  dearest  friends  to  alleviate  their 
sufferings. 

I  am  sorry  to  have  occasion  to  notice  in  my  journal  the 
following  occurrence.  The  body  of  a  soldier  has  been 
taken  from  the  grave,  for  the  purpose,  probably  of  dis 
section,  and  the  empty  coffin  left  exposed.  This  affair 
occasions  considerable  excitement  among  our  people;  both 
resentment  and  grief  are  manifested ;  as  it  seems  to  impress 
the  idea  that  a  soldier's  body  is  held  in  no  estimation  after 
death.  Such  a  practice,  if  countenanced,  might  be  attended 
with  serious  consequences  as  it  respects  our  soldiers. 
Much  inquiry  has  been  made,  but  without  success,  for  the 
discovery  of  the  persons  concerned;  and  the  practice  iri 
future  is  strictly  prohibited  by  the  commander-in-chief. 

The  joyful  intelligence  is  now  announced  in  the  public 
papers,  that  Captain  Manly,  of  Marblehead,  commander 
of  one  of  our  privateers,  has  captured  an  English  ship, 
bound  to  Boston,  loaded  with  ordnance  stores,  of  immense 
value  at  the  present  time.  Among  the  ordnance  is  a 
large  brass  mortar  on  a  new  construction,  and  a  number 


34  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1775. 

of  pieces  of  fine  brass  cannon.  There  are  small  arms, 
ammunition,  utensils,  &c.  &d  in  great  abundance.  An 
invoice,  it  is  said,  could  scarcely  be  formed  of  articles  better 
suited  to  our  wants  and  circumstances.  Several  other 
store  vessels  have  been  taken  by  our  privateers,  with  car 
goes  of  provision  and  various  lands  of  stores,  to  a  very 
considerable  amount,  which  greatly  augments  the  dis 
tresses  of  the  troops  and  people  in  Boston,  and  affords  us 
a  very  opportune  and  essential  supply.  It  is  now  repre 
sented  that  the  distresses  of  the  inhabitants  and  troops  in 
Boston  exceed  the  possibility  of  description.  They  are 
almost  in  a  state  of  starvation,  for  the  want  of  food  and 
fuel.  The  inhabitants,  totally  destitute  of  vegetables, 
flour  and  fresh  provisions,  have  .actually  been  obliged  to 
feed  on  horse  flesh ;  and  the  troops  confined  to  salt  pro 
visions;  by  means  of  which  they  have  become  very  sickly. 
They  have  taken  down  a  number  of  houses,  removed  the 
pews  from  the  church,  and  are  digging  up  the  timber  at 
the  wharves  for  fuel. 

December  2c?.— I  visited  the  park  of  artillery,  and  was 
much  gratified  to  find  a  collection  of  ordnance  far  exceed 
ing  my  expectations,  and  such  as  is  supposed  by  some  to 
be  adequate  to  our  present  exigence.  I  had  a  view  of  the 
large  brass  mortar  taken  by  Captain  Manly;  it  is  now 
called  the  Congress,  and  will  soon  be  prepared  to  speak  in 
strong  terms  to  its  former  masters. 

4th. — A  considerable  number  of  Connecticut  troops  have 
left  our  service  and  returned  home;  no  persuasion  could 
induce  them  to  continue  in  service  after  their  time  of  en 
listment  had  expired.  Enlisting  officers  are  distributed 
in  various  parts  of  New  England;  but  it  is  reported  that 
voluntary  enlistments  go  on  slowly.  The  people  seem  to 
be  unwilling  to  engage  in  the  public  service,  and  require 
higher  wages.  The  spirit  of  patriotism  appears  in  some 
degree  to  have  subsided,  and  the  militia  are  to  be  employed. 

Ilth. — A  party  of  militia,  said  to  be  about  two.thousand, 
have  arrived  in  camp;  and  information  is  received  that 
three  thousand  more  are  on  their  march.  A  few  enlisted 
soldiers  have  arrived ;  but  so  destitute  are  they  of  fire 
arms,  that  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  take  the  arms 
by  force  from  the  soldiers  who  retire,  paying  for  them,  in 
order  to  supply  the  recruits. 


MAJOR   GENERAL   RICHARD   MONTGOMERY. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1776.  35 

The  Americans  have  advanced  and  broken  ground 
at  Lechmere's  Point,  within  half  a  mile  of  Boston ;  which 
occasioned  a  severe  cannonade  from  the  enemy;  but  they 
persevered  in  their  work,  and  suffered  but  an  inconsidera 
ble  loss.  It  is  stated,  from  the  minutes  of  some  person, 
that  from  Breed's  hill  battle  to  the  25th  instant,  the  British 
have  thrown  upwards  of  two  thousand  shot  and  shells. 
By  the  whole  firing,  on  Cambridge  side,  they  killed  only 
seven,  and  on  Roxbury  side  five,  just  a  dozen  in  the  whole. 
At  this  rate,  how  many  shot  and  bombs  will  it  require 
to  subdue  the  whole  of  his  majesty's  rebellious  subjects? 

January,  1776. — At  the  close  of  the  last  year,  as  is  now 
reported,  our  army  was  reduced  to  a  very  critical  situation, 
being  obliged  to  substitute  new-raised  troops  and  militia 
in  the  place  of  those  who  had  been  in  service  five  or  six 
months;  and  this  exchange  was  made  within  musket-shot 
of  the  enemy's  lines.  During  part  of  this  period,  our 
numbers  were  not  sufficient  to  man  the  lines,  nor  was 
there  powder  enough  in  camp  to  furnish  four  rounds  a 
man.  Before  our  privateers  had  fortunately  captured 
some  prizes  with  cannon  and  other  ordnance,  our  army 
before  Boston  had,  I  believe,  only  four  small  brass  cannon 
and  a  few  old  honey -comb  iron  pieces  with  their  trunnions 
broken  off;  and  these  were  ingeniously  bedded  in  timbers 
in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  stocking  a  musket.  These 
machines  were  extremely  unwieldy  and  inconvenient, 
requiring  much  skill  and  labor  to  elevate  and  depress 
them.  Had  the  enemy  been  made  acquainted  with  our 
situation,  the  consequences  might  have  been  exceedingly 
distressing. 

26th. — The  newspapers  announce  the  most  painful  in 
telligence  from  our  army  in  Canada.  General  Montgom 
ery,  the  commander,  made  a  desperate,  but  unsuccessful, 
assault  on  the  city  of  Quebec,  on  the  31st  ultimo.  The 
event  has  proved  most  fatal  and  disastrous.  General 
Montgomery  and  his  aid-de-camp,  with  several  other 
officers,  were  slain.  Colonel  Arnold,  the  second  in  com 
mand,  heroically  passed  the  first  barrier  with  his  small 
party,  and  received  a  wound  in  his  leg.  About  three 
hundred  of  the  continental  troops  were  made  prisoners, 
and  about  sixty  killed  and  wounded.  We  remain  unac 
quainted  with  further  particulars.  The  death  of  General 


36  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

Montgomery  is  universally  deplored.  In  the  public  papers 
we  have  the  following  account  of  this  brave  officer.  "He 
was  a  captain  of  grenadiers  in  the  17th  regiment  of  British 
troops,  of  which  General  Monckton  was  colonel.  He  served 
the  last  war  in  the  expeditions  in  the  West  Indies  and 
America,  and  returned  with  his  regiment  to  England.  In 
1772  he  quitted  his  regiment,  though  in  a  fair  way  of 
preferment.  Whilst  in  America  he  imbibed  an  affection 
for  this  country — he  had,  while  in  the  king's  service,  de 
clared  his  disapprobation  of  the  sentiments  of  the  ministry, 
and  viewed  America  as  the  rising  seat  of  arts  and  freedom." 

February  9th. — A  very  considerable  firing  was  heard 
last  evening  from  Boston ;  it  was  occasioned  by  a  detach 
ment  of  one  hundred  men,  under  the  command,  of  Major 
Knowlton,  who  made  an  incursion  into  Charlestown,  for 
the  purpose  of  burning  a  number  of  houses,  to  deprive 
the  enemy  of  their  use.  He  effected  the  object  of  his 
expedition  by  burning  about  ten  houses  in  the  possession 
of  the  enemy,  and  returned  in  less  than  two  hours,  bringing 
off  some  muskets,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man  either 
killed  or  wounded. 

14/7*. — The  following  anecdote  is  worth  notice;  it  ap 
pears  by  extracts  from  letters  written  by  the  officers  who 
are  the  subjects  of  it.  Some  British  officers,  soon  after 
General  Gage  arrived  at  Boston,  while  walking  on  Beacon 
hill  in  the  evening,  were  frightened  by  noises  in  the  air, 
which  they  took  to  be  the  whizzing  of  bullets.  They  left 
the  hill  with  great  precipitation,  and  reported  that  they 
were  shot  at  with  air-guns,  and  wrote  frightful  accounts  of 
the  affair  to  their  friends  in  England.  The  whizzing  noise 
which  so  alarmed  these  valiant  officers,  could  be  no  other 
than  the  buzzing  of  bugs  and  beetles  while  flying  in  the  air. 

16//1. — It  might  be  supposed  that  the  melancholy  aspect 
of  the  times,  and  the  dreadful  disappointments  and  priva 
tions  of  the  British  officers  and  tories  in  Boston,  would 
afford  matter  for  the  most  serious  consideration,  and  effect 
ually  check  every  emotion  bordering  on  levity  and  amuse 
ment.  We  find,  however,  that  they  do  not  deny  them 
selves  balls  and  theatrical  amusements,  for  they  say  in  the 
language  of  the  poet, 

"What  need  of  piping  for  the  songs  and  sherry, 
When  our  own  mis'ries  can  make  us  merry." 


MILITA  RY  JOURNAL,  1776.  37 

It  is  asserted  from  Boston,  that  on  the  evening  when 
Major  Knowlton  set  fire  to  the  houses  in  Charlestown,  8th 
instant,  the  farce  of  "  The  Blockade  of  Boston"  of  which 
General  Burgoyne  is  the  reputed  author,  was  to  be  per 
formed.  The  figure  designed  to  burlesque  General  Wash 
ington  was  dressed  in  an  uncouth  style,  with  a  large  wig 
and  long  rusty  sword,  attended  by  his  orderly-sergeant 
in  his  country  dress,  having  on  his  shoulder  an  old  rusty 
gun,  seven  or  eight  feet  long.  At  the  moment  this  figure 
appeared  on  the  stage,  one  of  the  regular  sergeants  came 
running  on  the  stage,  threw  down  his  bayonet,  and 
exclaimed,  "The  Yankees  are  attacking  our  works  on 
Bunker's  hill."  Those  of  the  audience  who  were  unac 
quainted  with  the  different  parts,  supposed  that  this  be 
longed  to  the  farce;  but  when  General  Howe  called  out, 
Officers  to  your  alarm  posts,  they  were  undeceived;  all  was 
confusion  and  dismay;  and  among  the  ladies,  shrieking 
and  fainting  ensued.  How  pure  the  satisfaction  to  a  great 
mind  employed  in  burlesquing  those  Yankees  by  whom, 
they  are  besieged! 

18th. — Dr.  John  Morgan  of  Philadelphia  is  appointed 
by  Congress  director-general  of  our  hospitals,  instead  of 
Dr.  Church,  removed.  Since  his  arrival  here,  a  new  and 
systematic  arrangement  in  the  medical  department  has 
taken  place;  the  number  of  surgeon's  mates  in  the  hospital 
is  to  be  reduced,  and  vacancies  in  regiments  are  to  be  sup- 

S'ied.     I  have  been  subjected  to  another  examination  by 
r.  Morgan,  and  received  from  him  the  appointment  of 
surgeon's  mate  to  Dr.  David  Townsend,  in  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb,  stationed  in  the 
barracks  on  Prospect  hill. 

22d — Our  regiment,  according  to  orders,  marched  to 
Roxbury,  and  took  quarters  in  the  large  and  elegant 
house  formerly  belonging  to  Governor  Shirley.  Great 
preparations  are  making  in  our  army  for  some  important 
event.  Several  regiments  of  militia  have  arrived  from  the 
country;  and  orders  have  been  received  for  surgeons  and 
mates  to  prepare  lint  and  bandages,  to  the  amount  of  two 
thousand,  for  fractured  limbs  and  other  gun-shot  wounds. 
It  is,  however,  to  be  hoped  that  not  one-quarter  of  the 
number  will  be  required,  whatever  may  be  the  nature  of 
the  occasionj  Great  activity  and  animation  are  observed 


38  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

among  our  officers  and  soldiers,  who  manifest  an  anxious 
desire  to  have  a  conflict  with  the  enemy.  Either  a  gen 
eral  assault  on  the  town  of  Boston,  or  the  erection  of 
works  on  the  heights  of  Dorchester,  or  both,  is  generally 
supposed  to  be  in  contemplation. 

M'irch  2d. — A  very  heavy  discharge  of  cannon  and 
mortars  commenced  from  all  out  works  at  Cambridge  and 
lioxbury. 

3<L — The  firing  from  our  works  continues,  but  the  great 
brass  mortar,  the  Congress,  and  two  others,  have  unfortu 
nately  burst;  which  is  exceedingly  regretted. 

4th. — The  object  in  view  is  now  generally  understood 
to  be  the  occupying  and  fortifying  of  the  advantageous 
heights  of  Dorchester.  A  detachment  of  our  troops  is 
ordered  to  march  for  this  purpose  this  evening;  and  our 
regiment,  with  several  others,  has  received  orders  to  march 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  relieve  them.  We  are 
favored  with  a  full  bright  mocrn,  and  the  night  is  remark 
ably  mild  and  pleasant;  the  preparations  are  immense; 
more  than  three  hundred  loaded  carts  are  in  motion.  By 
the  great  exertions  of  General  Mifflin,  our  quarter-master- 
general,  the  requisite  number  of  teams  has  been  procured. 
The  covering  party  of  eight  hundred  men  advance  in  front. 
Then  follow  the  carts  with  the  intrenching  tools;  after 
which,  the  working  party  of  twelve  hundred,  commanded 
by  General  Thomas,  of  Kingston.  Next  in  the  martial 
procession  are  a  train  of  carts,  loaded  with  fascines  and 
Lay,  screwed  into  large  bundles  of  seven  or  eight  hundred 
weight.  The  whole  procession  moved  on  in  solemn  silence, 
and  with  perfect  order  and  regularity ;  while  the  continued 
roar  of  cannon  serves  to  engage  the  attention  and  divert 
the  enemy  from  the  main  object. 

5th. — At  about  four  o'clock  our  regiment  followed  to 
the  heights  of  Dorchester,  as  a  relief  party.  On  passing 
Dorchester  neck  I  observed  a  vast  number  of  large  bun 
dles  of  screwed  hay,  arranged  in  a  line  next  the  enemy, 
to  protect  our  troops  from  a  raking  fire,  to  which  we  should 
have  been  greatly  exposed,  while  passing  and  repassing. 
The  carts  were  still  in  motion  with  materials;  some  of 
them  have  made  three  or  four  trips.  On  the  heights  we 
found  two  forts  in  considerable  forwardness,  and  sufficient 
for  a  defence  against  small  arms  and  grape-shot.  The 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  39 

amount  of  labor  performed  during  the  night,  considering 
the  earth  is  frozen  eighteen  inches  deep,  is  almost  incred 
ible.  The  enemy  having  discovered  our  works  in  the 
morning,  commenced  a  tremendous  cannonade  from  the 
forts  in  Boston,  and  from  their  shipping  in  the  harbor. 
Cannon-shot  are  continually  rolling  and  rebounding  over 
the  hill ;  and  it  is  astonishing  to  observe  how  little  our 
soldiers  are  terrified  by  them.  During  the  forenoon  we 
were  in  momentary  expectation  of  witnessing  an  awful 
scene;  nothing  less  than  the  carnage  of  Breed's  hill  battle 
was  expected.  The  royal  troops  are  perceived  to  be  in 
motion,  as  if  embarking  to  pass  the  harbor,  and  land  on 
Dorchester  shore,  to  attack  our  works.  The  hills  and 
elevations  in  this  vicinity  are  covered  with  spectators  to 
witness  deeds  of  horror  in  the  expected  conflict.  His 
Excellency  General  Washington  is  present,  animating  and 
encouraging  the  soldiers,  and  they  in  return  manifest  their 
joy,  and  express  a  warm  desire  for  the  approach  of  the 
enemy;  each  man  knows  his  place,  and  is  resolute  to  ex 
ecute  his  duty.  Our  breastworks  are  strengthened,  and 
among  the  means  of  defence  are  a  great  number  of  bar 
rels,  filled  with  stones  and  sand,  arranged  in  front  of  our 
works;  which  are  to  be  put  in  motion  and  made  to  roll 
down  the  hill,  to  break  the  ranks  and  legs  of  the  assailants 
as  they  advance.  These  are  the  preparations  for  blood  and 
slaughter.  G  racious  God !  if  it  be  determined  in  thy  Provi 
dence  that  thousands  of  our  fellow-creatures  shall  this  day 
be  slain,  let  thy  wrath  be  appeased,  and  in  mercy  grant  that 
victory  be  on  the  side  of  our  suffering,  bleeding  country! 

The  anxious  day  has  closed,  and  the  enemy  has  failed 
to  molest  us.  From  appearances,  however,  there  are  strong 
reasons  to  suppose  that  they  have  only  postponed  their 
meditated  work  till  another  day.  It  is  presumed  that  the 
martial  fire,  which  has  been  enkindled  in  the  breasts  of 
our  soldiery,  will  not  be  extinguished  during  the  night, 
and  that  they  will  not  rest  quietly  under  their  disappoint 
ment.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  6th,  our  regiment  was 
relieved  from  its  tour  of  duty,  and  I  bade  adieu  to  Dor 
chester  heights,  without  being  called  to  dress  a  single 
wound.  Not  more  than  two  or  three  men  were  killed  or 
wounded  during  the  twenty-four  hours.  Some  of  the 
British  troops  were  seen  to  embark,  and  pass  down  towards 


40  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

the  castle  last  evening,  to  be  in  readiness,  it  was  supposed, 
in  conjunction  with  others,  to  attack  our  works  this  morn 
ing;  but  a  most  violent  storm  came  on  in  the  night,  and 
still  continuing,  obliges  General  Howe  to  abandon  his 
enterprise,  and  thus  has  a  kind  Providence  seen  fit  to 
frustrate  a  design,  which  must  have  been  attended  with 
immense  slaughter  and  bloodshed.  General  Howe  must 
now  be  sensible  of  his  exposed  situation,  and  be  convinced 
of  the  immediate  necessity  of  evacuating  the  town  of  Bos 
ton,  if  he  would  prevent  the  sacrifice  of  his  fleet  and  army. 

1th. — There  are  strong  indications  in  Boston  that  the 
king's  troops  are  preparing  to  evacuate  the  town ;  and  that 
no  attempt  will  be  made  to  dispossess  our  people  of  the 
works  which  we  have  constructed  on  Dorchester  heights. 

8th. — A  flag  of  truce  has  come  out  of  Boston  with  a 
message  from  the  selectmen;  acquainting  General  Wash 
ington  that  General  Howe  has  come  to  the  determination 
to  evacuate  the  town ;  and  that  he  would  leave  it  standing, 
provided  his  army  should  be  permitted  to  retire  without 
being  molested.  At  the  same  time  intimating,  as  is  re 
ported,  that  in  case  he  should  be  attacked  by  our  army, 
the  town  should  be  set  on  fire  in  different  places,  in  order 
to  secure  his  retreat.  We  are  unacquainted  with  the  de 
termination  of  his  excellency  respecting  this  proposition ; 
but  it  is  well  known  that  he  has  been  in  favor  of  making 
an  attack  on  the  town ;  and  that -the  necessary  preparations 
were  made,  and  the  plan  arranged,  to  be  put  in  execution 
in  the  event  of  the  enemy's  meditated  attack  on  our  works 
at  Dorchester  heights.  Four  thousand  troops,  the  first 
division  commanded  by  General  Sullivan,  the  second  by 
General  Greene,  were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness,  and  in 
case  the  enemy  had  advanced  and  been  defeated  on  the 
heights  of  Dorchester,  this  force,  at  a  given  signal,  was 
to  have  rushed  into  the  town  and  taken  possession. 

It  is  credibly  reported  from  Boston,  that  on  the  morning 
when  the  British  officers  discovered  our  newly-erected 
works,  which,  on  account  of  a  fog,  loomed  to  great  advan 
tage,  and  appeared  larger  than  the  reality,  General  Howe, 
on  viewing  them,  was  heard  to  say  in  astonishment,  " 
know  not  what  I  shall  do:  the  rebels  have  done  more  in 
one  night  than  my  whole  army  would  have  done  in  weeks." 
His  admiral  soon  assured  him  that  if  the  rebels  were  per- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  4.^ 

mitted  to  hold  possession,  he  should  not  be  able  to  keep 
a  single  ship  in  the  harbor  in  safety. 

Nothing  of  consequence  occurred  to  observation  till 
Sunday  morning,  March  17th,  when  at  an  early  hour  it 
was  perceived  that  the  royal  army  commenced  their  em 
barkation  on  board  of  transports.  In  the  course  of  the 
forenoon  we  enjoyed  the  unspeakable  satisfaction  of  be 
holding  their  whole  fleet  under  sail,  wafting  from  our 
shores  the  dreadful  scourge  of  war.  It  was  in  the  power 
of  the  provincials  by  a  cannonade  to  have  annoyed  the 
enemy's  shipping  and  transports  as  they  passed  Dorchester 
heights,  and  to  have  occasioned  great  embarrassment  and 
destruction  among  them;  but  no  orders  were  given  for  this 
purpose,  and  they  were  suffered  to  pass  unmolested.  Bv 
this  event  we'are  happily  relieved  of  a  force  consisting  of 
seven  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-five  regulars, 
exclusive  of  the  staff,  which,  with  the  marines  and  sailors, 
may  be  estimated  at  about  ten  thousand  in  the  whole. 
This  force  greatly  exceeds  the  five  regiments  with  which 
General  Grant  vauntingly  boasted  in  England  that  he  could 
march  successfully  from  one  end  of  the  American  conti 
nent  to  the  other.  A  considerable  number  of  tories,  who 
had  joined  the  royal  standard,  took  passage  with  their 
families  on  board  of  the  transports  with  the  army,  and 
bade  adieu  to  their  native  country,  without  knowing  what 
part  of  the  world  is  to  be  their  destiny. 

Immediately  after  the  enemy  sailed  from  Boston  harbor, 
General  Washington  ordered  the  major  part  of  his  army 
to  march  to  New  York,  to  secure  that  city  against  the 
apprehended  invasion  of  General  Howe.  It  was  not  till 
Wednesday,  the  20th,  that  our  troops  were  permitted  to 
enter  the  town,  when  our  regiment,  with  two  or  three 
others,  were  ordered  to  march  in,  and  take  up  our  quarters, 
which  were  provided  for  us  in  comfortable  houses.  While 
marching  through  the  streets,  the  inhabitants  appeared 
at  their  doors  and  windows;  though  they  manifested  a 
lively  joy  on  being  liberated  from  a  long  imprisonment, 
they  were  not  altogether  free  from  a  melancholy  gloom 
which  ten  tedious  months'  siege  has  spread  over  their 
countenances.  The  streets  and  buildings  present  a  scene 
which  reflects  disgrace  on  their  late  occupants,  exhibiting 
a  deplorable  desolation  and  wretchedness. 


42  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

22c?. — A  concourse  of  people  from  the  country  are 
crowding  into  town,  full  of  friendly  solicitude,  and  it  is 
truly  interesting  to  witness  the  tender  interviews  and  fond 
embraces  of  those  who  have  been  long  separated,  under 
ircumstances  so  peculiarly  distressing.  But  it  is  particu 
larly  unfortunate  on  this  occasion,  that  the  small-pox  is 
lurking  in  various  parts  of  the  town;  which  deters  many 
from  enjoying  an  interview  with  their  friends.  The  pa 
rents  and  sister  of  my  friend  Dr.  Townsend  have  continued 
in  town  during  the  siege;  being  introduced  to  the  family 
by  the  Doctor,  I  received  a  kind  and  polite  invitation  to 
take  up  my  abode  with  them,  where  I  am  enjoying  the 
kindest  attentions  and  civilities.  I  accompanied  several 
gentlemen  to  view  the  British  fortifications  on  Eoxbury 
neck,  where  I  observed  a  prodigious  number  of  little  mil 
itary  engines  called  caltrops,  or  crow-feet,  scattered  over 
the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  works  to  impede  the 
march  of  our  troops  in  case  of  an  attack.  The  implement 
consists  of  an  iron  ball  armed  with  four  sharp  points  about 
one  inch  in  length,  so  formed  that  which  way  soever  it 
may  fall  one  point  still  lies  upwards  to  pierce  the  feet  of 
horses  or  men,  and  are  admirably  well  calculated  to  obstruct 
the  march  of  an  enemy. 

23c?. — I  went  to  view  the  Old  South  Church,  a  spacious 
brick  building  near  the  centre  of  the  town.  It  has  been 
for  more  than  a  century  consecrated  to  the  service  of 
religion,  and  many  eminent  divines  have  in  its  pulpit 
labored  in  teaching  the  ways  of  righteousness  and  truth. 
But  during  the  late  siege  the  inside  of  it  was  entirely 
destroyed  by  the  British,  and  the  sacred  building  occupied 
as  a  riding-school  for  Burgoyne's  regiment  of  dragoons. 
The  pulpit  and  pews  were  removed,  the  floor  covered  with 
earth,  and  ttsed  for  the  purpose  of  training  and  exercising 
their  horses.  A  beautiful  pew,  ornamented  with  carved 
work  and  silk  furniture,  was  demolished;  and  by  order 
of  an  officer,  the  carved  work,  it  is  said,  was  used  as  a 
fence  for  a  hog-sty.  The  North  Church,  a  very  .valuable 
building,  was  entirely  demolished,  and  consumed  for  fuel. 
Thus  are  our  houses,  devoted  to  religious  worship,  pro 
faned  and  destroyed  by  the  subjects  of  his  royal  majesty. 
His  excellency  the  cornmander-in-chief  has  been  received 
by  the  inhabitants  with  every  mark  of  respect  and  grati- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  43 

tude ;  and  a  public  dinner  has  been  provided  for  him.  He 
requested  the  Eev.  Dr.  Eliot,  at  the  renewal  of  his  custom 
ary  Thursday  Lecture,  to  preach  a  thanksgiving  sermon, 
adapted  to  the  joyful  occasion.  Accordingly  on  the  28th, 
this  pious  divine  preached  an  appropriate  discourse  from 
Isaiah  xxxiii.  20,  in  presence  of  his  excellency  and  a  re 
spectable  audience. 

29$. — The  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives  and 
Council  presented  his  excellency  a  respectful  and  affec 
tionate  address;  and  received  from  him  a  reply  no  less 
respectful  and  satisfactory. 

One  of  our  soldiers  found  a  human  skeleton  in  complete 
preparation,  left  by  a  British  surgeon,  which  I  have  re 
ceived  as  an  acceptable  present. 

April  8th. — I  attended  at  the  Stone  Chapel,  where  were 
performed  the  funeral  solemnities  over  the  remains  of  that 
patriot  and  hero  Major-General  Joseph  Warren.  The  re 
mains  were  taken  from  the  earth  at  Breed's  hill,  placed 
in  an  elegant  coffin,  and  brought  into  the  chapel,  where, 
in  the  presence  of  a  numerous  assembly,  a  eulogy  was 
pronounced  by  Perez  Morton,  Esq.,  a  young  lawyer  of 
abilities.  The  ceremony  was  conducted  by  the  society  of 
Free  Masons,  of  which  the  deceased  was  grand  master. 
A  grand  procession  was  formed,  and  the  remains  having 
received  the  customary  masonic  honors,  were  deposited 
in  the  vault  under  the  chapel.  This  proceeding  was  to 
me  a  pleasing  novelty,  and  in  the  view  of  the  public,  a 
grateful  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  beloved  fellow-citizen. 

"Let  laurels,  drench'd  in  pure  Parnassian  dews, 

Reward  his  mem'ry,  dear  to  every  muse, 

Who,  with  a  courage  of  unshaken  root, 

In  honor's  field  advancing  his  firm  foot, 

Plants  it  upon  the  line  that  justice  draws, 

And  will  prevail  or  perish  in  her  cause. 

'Tis  to  the  virtues  of  such  men  man  owes 

His  portion  in  the  good  that  Heaven  bestows. 
.  And  when  recording  History  displays 

Feats  of  renown,  though  wrought  in  ancient  days; 

Tells  of  a  few  stout  hearts,  that  fought  and  died 

Where  duty  placed  them,  at  their  country's  side; 

The  man  that  is  not  moved  with  what  he  reads, 

That  takes  not  fire  at  their  heroic  deeds, 

Unworthy  of  the  blessings  of  the  brave, 

Is  base  in  kind,  and  born  to  be  a  slave." — COWPEP. 
4 


44  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

r  May. — As  the  small-pox  is  in  many  parts  of  the  town 
among  both  the  inhabitants  and  soldiers,  I  was  advised 
by  my  friends  to  have  recourse  to  inoculation  for  my  own 
safety,  though  contrary  to  general  orders.  I  was  accord 
ingly  inoculated  by  my  friend  Dr.  John  Homans,  and  have 
passed  through  the  disease  in  the  most  favorable  manner, 
I  not  suffering  one  day's  confinement. 

June  13^/2. — The  harbor  of  Boston  has  not  been  entirely 
cleared  of  British  shipping  since  the  town  was  evacuated. 
A  fifty-gun  ship  and  several  other  vessels  still  occupy  the 
the  lower  harbor,  near  Nantasket.  A  number  of  provin 
cial  troops  and  volunteers  are  now  ordered  on  an  expedi 
tion,  under  command  of  General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  with 
heavy  cannon,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  them  from  the 
harbor.  A  part  of  our  regiment  being  ordered  on  the 
expedition,  we  embarked  at  the  Long  Wharf,  and  landed 
on  Long  Island,  and  immediately  made  arrangements  for 
a  cannonade.  A  few  shot  soon  convinced  the  commodore 
of  his  danger;  he  returned  the  fire  with  some  spirit;  but 
having  received  a  shot  through  his  upper  works,  he  soon 
got  under  sail  and  hastily  departed.  Thus  is  the  port  of 
Boston  again  opened  by  our  own  authority,  after  being 
closed  during  two  years  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  British 
Parliament. 

20th. — The  removal  of  the  British  armed  vessels  from 
Nantasket  has  been  productive  of  very  favorable  conse 
quences.  Three  days  after  their  departure  two  transports 
from  Scotland  bound  to  Boston,  unapprised  of  the  event, 
entered  Nantasket  road,  and  were  accosted  by  a  discharge 
of  cannon  from  an  American  battery  before  they  were 
undeceived.  In  this  situation  it  was  impossible  for  them 
to  escape,  and  several  of  our  privateers  made  their  appear 
ance,  and  commanded  them  to  strike  their  flag.  This  be 
ing  refused,  a  smart  action  ensued,  and  continued  about  an 
hour  and  a  half,  when  they  were  obliged  to  yield  and  strike 
to  the  privateers.  On  board  the  transports  Major  Menzies 
and  eight  others  were  killed,  and  seventeen  wounded. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Archibald  Campbell,  two  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  Highlanders,  and  forty-tight  others,  were  made 
prisoners.  Major  Menzies  has  been  buried  here  with  the 
honors  of  war. 
"  July  3c?. — Orders  are  given  to  inoculate  for  the  small- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  45 

pox,  all  the  soldiers  and  inhabitants  in  town,  as  a  general 
infection  of  this  terrible  disease  is  apprehended.  Dr. 
Townsend  and  myself  are  now  constantly  engaged  in  this 
business. 

~L2th. — Melancholy  accounts  have  been  received  respect 
ing  the  situation  of  our  army  in  Canada;  they  are  sub 
jected  to  very  great  hardships,  sufferings,  and  privations. 
Destitute  of  the  necessary  supplies  of  provisions  and  stores, 
exhausted  by  fatigue,  and  reduced  by  sickness,  with  the 
small-pox  attended  by  unexampled  mortality,  they  are  in 
a  state  but  little  short  of  desperation.  In  addition  to  all 
their  sufferings,  they  now  have  to  deplore  the  loss  of  their 
valuable  commander,  Major-General  John  Thomas.  This 
gentleman  was  a  native  of  Kingston,  Massachusetts.  He 
was  in  military  service-  in  former  wars  against  the  French 
and  Indians,  where  he  acquired  a  high  degree  of  reputa 
tion.  He  was  among  the  first  to  espouse  the  cause  of  his 
country  in  a  military  character  in  1775,  and  during  the 
siege  of  Boston,  and  on  the  heights  of  Dorchester,  he  was 
distinguished  as  an  active,  vigilant  and  brave  officer.  In 
March,  1776,  he  was  promoted  by  Congress  from  a  brig 
adier  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  by  them  appointed 
to  command  our  forces  in  Canada.  On  his  arrival  there 
he  found  innumerable  difficulties  to  encounter;  the  small 
pox  frequently  breaking  out  among  the  troops,  and  the 
soldiers  being  in  the  practice  of  inoculating  themselves,  to 
the  great  injury  of  the  public  service.  The  general  deemed 
it  necessary,  for  the  safety  of  the  army,  to  prohibit  the 
practice  of  inoculating,  and  not  excepting  himself  from, 
the  injunction,  he  unfortunately  received  the  infection, 
which  proved  fatal  to  him,  and  deprived  the  public  of  a 
valuable  general  officer.  He  was  held  in  universal  respect 
and  confidence  as  a  military  character,  and  his  death  is 
deeply  deplored  throughout  the  army. 

The  very  important  intelligence  from  Philadelphia  is 
now  proclaimed,  that  on  the  4th  instant,  the  American 
Congress  declared  the  thirteen  United  Colonies,  "Free, 
Sovereign,  Independent  States."  The  subject  has  for  some 
time  agitated  the  public  mind,  and  various  opinions  have 
been  entertained  relative  to  this  momentous  transaction. 
Opinions  of  much  weight  and  authority  have  been  and 
still  are  in  collision,  and  it  has  been  considered  very 


46  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

doubtful  whether  the  grand  object  would  be  accomplished 
at  the  present  time.  Objections,  however,  have  yielded 
to  imperious  necessity,  and  a  new  epoch  for  United 
America  has  now  commenced.  We  are  now,  in  the  16th 
year  of  the  reign  of  his  Majesty  King  George  the  Third, 
absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown;  and  all 
political  connexion  between  us,  as  subjects,  and  his  gov 
ernment  is  totally  and  for  ever  dissolved,  unless  indeed 
Providence  shall  so  order,  that  we  shall  be  again  reduced 
to  a  state  of  dependence  and  vassalage. 

18th. — This  day  the  declaration  of  American  Independ 
ence  has  been  proclaimed  in  form  from  the  balcony  of  the 
state-house  in  this  town.  On  this  most  joyful  occasion 
Colonels  Whitcomb  and  Sargeant's  regiments  were  pa 
raded  under  arms  in  King  street;  and  also  a  detachment 
from  the  Massachusetts  regiment  of  artillery  with  two  field- 
pieces.  A  number  of  the  members  of  our  council  and 
house  of  representatives,  the  magistrates,  clergymen,  se 
lectmen,  and  a  large  number  of  other  gentlemen  of  Boston, 
and  of  the  neighboring  towns,  assembled  in  the  council- 
chamber.  At  one  o'clock  the  declaration  was  proclaimed 
by  Colonel  Thomas  Crafts,  and  was  received  with  great 
joy.  Three  huzzas  from  the  concourse  of  people  were 
given,  after  which  thirteen  pieces  of  cannon  were  fired 
from  Fort  hill  and  from  Dorchester  neck,  the  Castle,  Nan- 
tasket,  &c.  The  detachment  of  artillery  in  King  street, 
discharged  their  cannon  thirteen  times;  which  was  fol 
lowed  by  the  two  regiments  in  thirteen  separate  divisions; 
all  corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  American  United 
States;  after  which,  the  gentlemen  in  the  council  chamber 
partook  of  a  collation,  and  a  number  of  appropriate  toasts 
were  proclaimed  by  the  president  of  the  council. 

This  highly  important  transaction  of  our  Congress  is  the 
theme  of  every  circle  and  topic  of  universal  discussion, 
and  it  receives  the  sanction  and  approbation  of  a  large 
majority  of  the  community.  When  we  reflect  on  the  de 
ranged  condition  of  our  army,  the  great  deficiency  of  our 
resources,  and  the  little  prospect  of  foreign  assistance,  and 
at  the  same  time  contemplate  the  prodigious  powers  and 
resources  of  our  enemy,  we  may  view  this  measure  of 
Congress  as  a  prodigy.  The  history  of  the  world  cannot 
furnish  an  instance  of  fortitude  and  heroic  magnanimity 


THOMAS   JEFFERSON, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  47 

parallel  to  that  displayed  by  the  members,  whose  signa 
tures  are  affixed  to  the  declaration  of  American  Independ 
ence.  Their  venerated  names  will  ornament  the  brightest 
pages  of  American  history,  and  be  transmitted  to  the  latest 
generations.  The  instrument  was  signed  by  John  Han 
cock,  Esq.  as  President,  and  by  fifty-four  others,  delegates 
from  the  thirteen  United  States.  The  Congress  have  in 
their  declaration  recited  the  grievances  and  oppressions, 
for  which  we  could  not  obtain  redress;  and  proclaimed 
to  the  world  the  causes  which  impelled  them  to  a  separa 
tion  from  the  crown  of  Great  Britain.  A  sensible  and 
popular  writer,  in  a  production  entitled  "  Common  Sense" 
argues  the  necessity  of  the  measure  from  the  following 
considerations.  "We  had  no  credit  abroad  because  of 
our  rebellious  dependency.  Our  ships  could  obtain  no  pro 
tection  in  foreign  ports,  because  we  afforded  them  no  just 
ifiable  reason  for  granting  it  to  us.  The  calling  of  ourselves 
subjects,  and  at  the  same  time  fighting  against  the  prince 
we  acknowledge,  was  a  dangerous  precedent  to  all  Europe. 
If  the  grievances  justified  our  taking  up  arms,  they  justi 
fied  our  separation;  if  they  did  not  justify  our  separation, 
neither  could  they  justify  our  taking  arms.  All  Europe 
was  interested  in  reducing  us  as  rebels,  and  all  Europe,  or 
the  greater  part  at  least,  is  interested  in  supporting  us  in 
our  independent  state.  At  home  our  condition  was  still 
worse;  our  currency  had  no  foundation;  and  the  state  of 
it  would  have  ruined  whig  and  tory  alike.  We  had  no 
other  laws  than  a  kind  of  moderated  passion;  no  other 
civil  power  than  an  honest  mob;  and  no  other  protection 
than  the  temporary  attachment  of  one  man  to  another. 
Had  independency  been  delayed  a  few  months  longer, 
this  continent  would  have  been  plunged  into  irretrieva 
ble  confusion;  some  violent  for  it,  some  against  it — all  in 
the  greatest  cabal;  the  rich  would  have  been  ruined,  and 
the  poor  destroyed.  The  necessity  of  being  independent 
would  have  brought  it  on  in  a  little  time,  had  there  been 
no  rupture  between  Britain  and  America.  The  increasing 
importance  of  commerce — the  weight  and  perplexity  of 
legislation — and  the  enlarged  state  of  European  politics, 
would  clearly  have  shown  to  the  continent  the  impropri 
ety  of  continuing  subordinate;  for  after  the  coolest  reflec 
tion  on  the  matter,  this  must  be  allowed,  'that  Britain 


48  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

was  too  jealous  of  America  to  govern  it  justly;  too  igno 
rant  of  it  to  govern  it  well ;  and  too  distant  from  it  to 
govern  it  at  all.' "  The  author  of  Common  Sense  is  Mr. 
Thomas  Paine,  lately  from  England.  I  am  credibly  in 
formed  that  the  following  anecdote  occurred  on  the  day 
of  signing  the  declaration.  Mr.  Harrison,  a  delegate  from 
Virginia,  is  a  large  portly  man — Mr.  Gerry  of  Massachu 
setts  is  slender  and  spare.  A  little  time  after  the  solemn 
transaction  of  signing  the  instrument,  Mr.  Harrison  said 
smilingly  to  Mr.  Gerry,  "When  the  hanging  scene  comes 
to  be  exhibited,  I  shall  have  the  advantage  over  you,  on 
account  of  my  size.  All  will  be  over  with  me  in  a  mo 
ment,  but  you  will  be  kicking  in  the  air  half  an  hour  after 
I  am  gone." 

20*7*. — It  appears,  by  the  public  papers,  that  a  detach 
ment  from  the  British  army  of  two  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  men,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Clinton, 
Lord  Cornwallis,  and  a  fleet  consisting  of  two  line  of  battle 
ships,  frigates,  and  other  armed  vessels,  amounting  to 
forty  or  fifty,  have  lately  made  a  furious  attack  on  the  town 
of  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Major-General  Lee,  who 
commands  our  army  in  that  quarter,  has  written  to  Con 
gress  a  particular  statement  of  the  engagement,  which,  he 
says,  continued  for  twelve  hours  without  intermission. 
The  enemy  was  twice  repulsed  with  great  loss;  and  the 
Carolina  troops  and  militia  have  gained  the  highest  honor 
by  their  brave  and  intrepid  conduct.  Colonel  Moultrie, 
in  a  particular  manner,  is  deserving  of  the  highest  praise. 
But  the  British  fleet  has  suffered  a  loss  almost  beyond 
example.  Their  ships  shattered  almost  to  total  ruin,  and 
one  frigate  of  twenty-eight  guns  was  blown  up  by  her  own 
crew.  A  number  of  officers  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  number  of  men  is  said  to  be  one  hundred  and 
seventy-nine  killed,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty  wounded. 
Not  one  man,  who  was  quartered  at  the  beginning  of  the 
action  on  the  Bristol's  quarter-deck,  escaped  being  killed 
or  wounded.  Lord  Campbell,  the  late  governor  of  that 
colony,  being  a  volunteer  on  board,  received  a  mortal 
wound;  and  the  Commodore,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  had  a 
material  part  of  his  breeches  torn  away,  and  was  otherwise 
wounded.  The  whole  of  the  British  forces  displayed  the 
greatest  courage  and  bravery.  In  a  southern  newspaper 
are  inserted  the  following  lines  on  Sir  Peter's  disaster: 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1776.  49 

"If  honor  in  the  breech  is  lodged, 

As  Hudibras  hath  shown, 
It  may  from  hence  be  fairly  judged 
Sir  Peter's  honor's  gone." 

The  English  Parliament,  doubting  the  competency  of 
their  own  powers  to  subjugate  the  United  Colonies,  have 
resorted  to  the  assistance  of  foreign  troops  to  prosecute 
their  sanguinary  purposes.  They  have  actually  entered 
into  treaty  with  several  German  princes  to  furnish  seven 
teen  thousand  men,  to  aid  in  the  great  work  of  reducing 
the  Americans  to  the  same  degraded  state  of  vassalage 
with  these  hirelings  themselves.  The  terms  stipulated  in 
the  treaties  are,  that  besides  the  wage*  to  be  paid  these 
foreigners,  Parliament  engages  to  pay  for  every  soldier 
who  shall  not  return,  thirty  pounds  sterling;  and  for  every 
disabled  soldier  fifteen  pounds  sterling !  These  mercenary 
troops,  it  is  said  in  England,  are  to  "assist  in  forcing  the 
rebels  to  ask  mercy."  It  has  been  asserted  in  the  House 
of  Lords,  that  the  expense  to  England  for  these  foreign 
troops  cannot  be  less  than  one  million  five  hundred  thou 
sand  pounds  for  one  year!  There  is  now  the  clearest 
evidence,  that  the  British  ministry  are  wofully  disappointed 
in  their  expectations  respecting  the  spirit  and  temper  of 
the  American  people.  They  had  entertained  no  idea  that 
the  colonists  would  proceed  to  such  daring  enormity  as  to 
spurn  their  mighty  power  and  authority.  They  appear 
now  determined  by  their  augmented  forces  to  crush  at  a 
blow  all  opposition  to  their  mandates,  and  to  coerce  the 
rebels  into  a  sense  of  duty  to  their  king.  It  is  estimated 
that  a  force  exceeding  forty  thousand  men  is  to  be  em 
ployed  in  America  the  present  year.  His  majesty  has 
appointed  the  two  brothers,  Lord  Howe  and  General 
Howe,  commissioners  for  restoring  peace  to  the  colonies, 
and  for  granting  pardon  to  such  of  his  majesty's  subjects, 
now  in  rebellion,  as  shall  deserve  the  royal  clemency. 
Besides  the  two  commissioners,  they  are  about  to  send  on 
the  same  service  a  combination  of  Hessians,  Brunswickers, 
Waldeckers,  English,  Scotch,  and  Irish.  The  Scots  may 
perhaps  come  prepared  with  the  following  advice : 

"O  learn  from  our  example  and  our  fate, 
Learn  wisdom  and  repentance  ere  too  late." 

The  following  transaction  is  now  a  subject  of  newspaper 


50  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

discussion  and  of  general  conversation.  Admiral  Lord 
Howe  arrived  off  the  city  of  New  York,  not  long  since, 
to  take  the  command  of  the  British  fleet;  on  his  arrival 
he  proclaimed  to  the  public  that  he  and  his  brother  Gen 
eral  Howe  were  appointed  his  majesty's  commissioners, 
with  full  powers  to  grant  pardons  to  all  or  to  any  town, 
county,  or  district,  who  may  have  departed  from  their 
allegiance  and  duty  to  his  majesty,  &c.,  and  who  are  willing 
by  a  speedy  return  to  reap  the  benefit  of  the  royal  favor. 
These  royal  commissioners  despatched  Colonel  Patterson, 
adjutant-general  of  the  British  army,  to  General  Wash 
ington,  at  New  York,  with  letters  respecting  their  mission ; 
but  as  the  letters  were  not  directed  in  a  manner  expressive 
of  his  official  station,  his  excellency  refused  to  receive 
them ;  but  treated  Colonel  Patterson  with  much  politeness, 
and  dismissed  him.  The  conduct  of  General  Washington 
in  this  interview  received  the  approbation  of  Congress, 
and  they  resolved,  "that  he  had  acted  with  a  dignity  be 
coming  his  character."  They  further  resolved,  "that  .no 
letters  or  messages  be  received  on  any  occasion  whatever 
from  the  enemy,  by  the  commander-in-chief  or  others,  the 
commanders  of  the  American  army,  but  such  as  shall  be 
directed  to  them  in  the  characters  they  respectively  sus 
tain."  It  was  not  many  days  after  this  that  Colonel  Pat 
terson  again  waited  on  General  Washington,  and  on  this 
occasion  he  addressed  him  by  the  title  of  excellency ;  and 
in  the  name  of  the  commissioners  apologized  for  any  de 
ficiency  in  point  of  respect  or  punctilio,  and  assured  him 
that  they  had  the  highest  personal  respect  for  General 
Washington,  and  did  not  mean  to  derogate  from  his  rank; 
that  the  letter,  of  which  he  was  now  the  bearer  from  the 
commissioners,  was  directed  to  George  Washington,  Esq., 
&c.  &c.  &c.,  which  they  hoped  would  remove  all  difficulties; 
as  the  three  et  ceteras  might  be  understood  to  imply  every 
thing  that  ought  to  follow.  To  this  the  general  replied, 
that  though  it  was  true  the  three  et  ceteras  might  mean 
every  thing ,  it  was  also  true  they  might  mean  any  thing, 
and  as  Congress  had  approved  of  his  conduct  in  the  first 
interview,  he  could  not  enter  into  any  new  treaty  without 
fresh  authority,  and  declined  receiving  the  letter;  adding 
that  he  should  absolutely  decline  any  letter  directed  to 
him  as  a  private  person,  when  it  related  to  his  public  sta- 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1776.  5^ 

tion.  Colonel  Patterson  said,  Lord  and  General  Howe 
were  invested  with  exceedingly  great  powers,  and  were 
very  desirous  of  being  the  medium  of  an  accommodation 
of  difficulties.  The  general  replied,  he  had  read  the  act 
of  Parliament,  and  found  they  were  merely  empowered 
to  grant  pardons.  The  Americans  had  committed  no 
wrong,  and  therefore  wanted  no  pardons;  we  were  only 
defending  what  we  deemed  our  indisputable  rights.  Colo 
nel  Patterson  seemed  confused,  and  replied  that  this  would 
open  a  wide  field  for  argument.  The  adjutant-general 
conducted  with  the  greatest  attention  and  politeness;  and 
manifested  great  solicitude  that  the  letter  might  be  re 
ceived,  and  that  the  interview  might  be  productive  of 
favorable  results.  He  expressed  strong  acknowledgments 
for  the  favor  done  him,  in  omitting  the  usual  ceremony  of 
blinding  his  eyes,  when  passing  our  works.  General 
Washington  invited  him  to  partake  of  a  collation  provided 
for  him,  and  he  was  introduced  to  our  general  officers. 
After  many  compliments  and  polite  expressions,  he  de 
parted  with  saying,  "Has  your  excellency  no  commands 
to  my  Lord  or  General  Howe?"  "None,  sir,"  replied  the 
general,  "but  my  particular  compliments  to  both  of  them." 

This  event  furnishes  an  irrefragable  testimony  of  the 
rnanly  firmness  of  mind  and  dignity  of  conduct  of  our 
comrnarider-in-chief;  and  is  calculated  to  impress  the  Eng 
lish  commanders  with  a  just  sense  of  his  exalted  merit 
and  character. 

August  \st. — The  continental  army,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  General  Washington,  is  stationed  at  New 
York;  and  it  is  expected  that  the  British  army,  under 
command  of  General  Howe,  will  endeavor  to  take  posses 
sion  of  that  city  the  present  season. 

oth. — Colonel  Whitcomb's  regiment,  consisting  of  five 
hundred  men,  has  now  gone  through  the  small-pox  in  this 
town  by  inoculation,  and  all,  except  one  negro,  have 
recovered. 

7th. — This  regiment,  with  Colonel  Sargeant's,  are  pre 
paring  to  march  to  Ticonderoga.  A  number  of  teams  are 
procured  to  transport  the  baggage  and  stores,  and  this 
morning,  at  seven  o'clock,  they  marched  out  of  town  with 
colors  displayed  and  drums  beating.  Being  myself  indis 
posed,  I  am  permitted  to  tarry  in  town  till  my  health  is 


52  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

restored,  and  in  the  mean  time  I  am  directed  to  take 
charge  of  the  sick  soldiers  that  remain  here. 

20th. — Having  recovered  my  health,  and  being  prepared 
to  follow  our  regiment,  T  am  this  day  to  bid  adieu  to  the 
town  of  Boston,  where  I  have  resided  very  pleasantly  for 
the  last  five  months.  I  am  destined  to  a  distant  part  of 
our  country,  and  know  not  what  suffering  and  hazards  I 
shall  be  called  to  encounter,  while  in  the  discharge  of  my 
military  duty.  I  shall  commence  my  journey  in  company 
with  Lieutenant  Whiting  and  fourteen  men  who  were  left 
here  as  invalids. 

September. — We  took  our  route  through  Worcester, 
Springfield,  Charlestown,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  over 
the  Green  Mountains  to  Skeensboro';  which  is  the  place 
of  rendezvous  for  the  continental  troops  and  militia  des 
tined  to  Ticonderoga.  Here  boats  are  provided  at  the 
entrance  of  Lake  Champlain,  which  are  continually  passing 
to  and  from  this  place.  We  embarked  on  the  6th  instant, 
and  with  good  oarsmen  and  sails  we  arrived  the  same  day, 
and  joined  our  regiment  here,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles. 
While  on  our  march,  we  received  alarming  reports  re 
specting  some  military  operations  between  our  arrny, 
commanded  by  General  Washington,  and  the  British, 
under  command  of  General  Howe,  on  Long  Island,  near 
New  York.  The  report  states  that  our  army  has  suffered 
a  complete  defeat  with  great  loss,  and  that  two  of  our 
general  officers  are  taken  prisoners.  The  inhabitants 
through  the  country  are  in  great  alarm;  but  have  not  ob 
tained  the  particulars;  as  the  account  at  present  is  vague, 
and  somewhat  contradictory,  we  hope  and  trust  that  a 
particular  detail  will  prove  the  event  to  be  more  favorable 
to  our  cause. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  here,  a  soldier  had  the  impru- 
^  dence  to  seize  a  rattlesnake  by  its  tail;  the  reptile  threw 
its  head  back  and  struck  its  fangs  into  the  man's  hand. 
In  a  few  moments  a  swelling  commenced,  attended  with 
severe  pain.  It  was  not  more  than  half  an  hour,  when 
his  whole  arm  to  his  shoulder  was  swollen  to  twice  its 
natural  size,  and  the  skin  became  of  a  deep  orange  color. 
His  body,  on  one  side,  soon  became  affected  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  a  nausea  at  his  stomach  ensued.  The  poor 
man  was  greatly  and  justly  alarmed;  his  situation  was  very 


, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  53 

critical.  Two  medical  men,  beside  myself,  were  in  close 
attendance  for  several  hours.  Having  procured  a  quantity 
of  olive  oil,  we  directed  the  patient  to  swallow  it  in  large 
and  repeated  doses,  till  he  had  taken  one  quart;  and  at 
the  same  time  we  rubbed  into  the  affected  limb  a  very  large 
quantity  of  mercurial  ointment.  In  about  two  hours  we 
had  the  satisfaction  to  perceive  the  favorable  effects  of  the 
remedies.  The  alarming  symptoms  abated,  the  swelling 
and  pain  gradually  subsided,  and  in  about  forty  ^eight  hours 
he  was  happily  restored  to  health. 

10th. — I  have  omitted  to  record  the  following  incidents, 
till  I  could  ascertain  the  particulars  of  the  reports. 

We  learn  by  accounts  from  New  York  that,  some  time 
since,  a  plot  of  a  most  atrocious  nature  was  detected  in  that 
city.  A  gang  of  tories  had  associated  for  the  purpose  of 
joining  the  British  army;  and  had  concerted  a  plan,  it  is 
said,  to  assassinate  his  Excellency  General  Washington 
and  some  other  officers ;  and  while  our  army  were  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  to  blow  up  our  magazines,  &c.  The 
mayor  of  the  city,  and  an  armorer  who  was  employed  in 
making  rifles  for  the  tories,  a^nd  several  others,  were  taken 
into  custody,  and  committed  to  close  prison.  The  mayor, 
on  examination,  confessed  that  he  received  money  from 
Governor  Tryon  to  pay  the  armorer  for  the  rifles.  Two 
of  his  excellency's  guards  were  confederate;  and  a  third, 
to  whom  the  secret  was  confided,  honestly  disclosed  the 
information.  Several  of  these  miscreants  were  tried  and 
convicted,  and  two  or  three  were  executed.  Another  vile 
plot  has  been  discovered  in  the  city  of  Albany.  By  the 
confession  of  two  tories,  the  plan  was  to  set  the  city  on 
fire,  and  to  blow  up  the  magazine.  Some  of  the  incendia 
ries  were  apprehended,  and  the  meditated  plot  frustrated. 
We  have  now  ample  evidence,  that  the  tories  are  the  most 
virulent  and  implacable  of  our  enemies;  and  it  is  to  be 
considered  as  a  remarkable  interposition  of  Providence, 
that  their  vile  machinations  are  so  frequently  defeated. 
Internal  secret  enemies  are  always  more  dangerous  than 
avowed  foes  in  the  field;  and  so  numerous  and  active  are 
the  tories  in  the  vicinity  of  our  main  army,  that  it  has  been 
found  necessary  to  adopt  coercive  measures,  and  to  compel 
them  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  as  prescribed  by  our 
Congress,  or  to  depart  from  our  territories. 


54  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 


12$.  —  I  must  not  omit  to  notice  another  instance  of 
villany  in  a  German  by  the  name  of  Ledwitz.  By  his 
solicitation  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  in  our  army, 
and  he  has  been  detected  in  a  traitorous  correspondence 
with  Governor  Tryon  of  New  York.  lie  entrusted  his 
letter  to  one  Steen,  an  honest  German,  to  be  conveyed  to 
New  York  ;  but  he  considered  it  his  duty  to  expose  the 
perfidy,  and  delivered  it  to  General  Washington.  In  his 
letter  he  first  presents  his  compliments  in  a  formal  manner 
to  Lord  Howe,  and  then  proceeds  to  profess  a  conscious 
ness  that  the  world  will  censure  him  for  his  treachery,  in 
corresponding  with  the  enemy  of  those  in  whose  service 
he  is  employed,  but  apologizes  by  asserting  that  he  had 
been  forced  to  accept  his  commission,  for  fear  of  ruin  to 
himself  and  family;  and  as  he  had  engaged,  through  com 
pulsion,  by  a  rebellious  mob,  he  can  be  under  no  obligation 
to  be  faithful  in  their  service.  Besides  this,  he  adds,  he 
had  previously  taken  Governor  Tryon's  advice,  and  had 
promised  to  do  all  he  could  in  his  new  capacity  for  his 
majesty's  service.  He  then  asserts  that  a  person  who  is  a 
friend  to  the  king,  though  an  interested  one,  had  offered 
to  furnish  him  with  weekly  returns  of  the  strength  and 
detail  of  the  continental  army,  for  the  sum  of  four  thou 
sand  pounds  sterling,  to  be  paid  in  advance  in  gold;  but 
that  he  had  agreed  with  him  to  render  that  service  for  two 
thousand  pounds,  which  sum,  he  requested,  might  be  im 
mediately  conveyed  to  him.  By  this  criminal  act  the  per 
fidious  wretch  had  forfeited  his  life,  according  to  the  articles 
of  war;  but  on  his  trial  by  a  court  martial,  his  life  was 
saved  by  the  casting  vote  of  a  militia  officer,  who  pretended 
some  scruples  of  conscience;  he  was,  however,  cashiered, 
and  declared  incapable  of  holding  any  military  office  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States. 

loth.  —  I  have  now  ascertained,  by  accounts  published, 
that  the  battle  on  Long  Island  took  place  on  the  27th  of 
August.  The  British  and  Hessian  army,  supposed  to 
amount  to  twenty-four  thousand,  landed  on  the  island 
under  cover  of  their  shipping.  The  continental  army  con 
sisted  of  ten  thousand  five  hundred  and  fourteen  effectives 
only;  and  these  were  so  situated,  that  but  a  small  part 
could  be  brought  into  action;  the  conflict  therefore  was 
extremely  unequal.  In  point  of  numbers,  of  discipline, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  55 

experience  in  war,  and  of  artillery,  the  enemy  possessed 
the  most  decided  advantage;  besides  the  important  assist 
ance  afforded  by  a  powerful  fleet.  The  very  judicious 
plan  of  attack  by  the  British  generals  was  carried  into 
execution  with  irresistible  ardor  and  impetuosity.  The 
Americans  defended  themselves  with  great  bravery,  till  a 
considerable  number  of  them  were  completely  surrounded 
and  the  remainder  dispersed.  The  palm  of  victory  was  on 
the  side  of  the  enemy;  and  our  loss  is  very  considerable. 
Major-General  Sullivan  and  Lord  Stirling  were  obliged  to 
surrender  as  prisoners;  and  our  total  loss  is  supposed  to  be 
not  less  than  one  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  The  enemy  suffered  very  severely. 

After  this  unfortunate  skirmishing,  our  army  retreated 
within  their  lines  at  Brooklyn,  and  were  exposed  to  the 
greatest  hazard ;  our  troops,  fatigued  and  discouraged  by 
defeat,  a  superior  enemy  in  their  front,  and  a  powerful 
fleet  about  to  enter  the  East  Eiver  with  a  view  of  effectu 
ally  cutting  off  their  retreat;  but  an  interposition  of 
Providence,  and  the  wisdom  and  vigilance  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,  preserved  our  army  from  destruction. 
Having  resolved  to  withdraw  his  army  from  its  hazardous 
position,  General  Washington  crossed  over  to  the  island 
in  the  night  of  the  29th  of  August,  and  personally  con 
ducted  the  retreat  in  so  successful  a  manner,  under  the 
most  embarrassing  circumstances,  that  it  is  considered  as 
a  remarkable  example  of  good  generalship.  A  circum 
stance  which  is  remarked  as  manifestly  providential,  is, 
that  a  thick  fog  enveloped  the  whole  of  Long  Island  in 
obscurity  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  while  on  the 
side  of  the  enemy  at  New  York,  the  atmosphere  was  per 
fectly  clear.  Thus  by  a  providential  interposition  of  an 
unusual  fog,  our  army,  consisting  of  nine  thousand  men, 
in  one  night  embarked  under  great  disadvantages,  and 
with  their  baggage,  provisions,  stores,  horses,  and  the  mu 
nitions  of  war,  crossed  a  river,  a  mile  or  more  wide,  and 
landed  at  New  York  undiscovered  and  without  material 
loss.  The  enemy  were  so  near,  that  they  were  heard  at 
work  with  their  pick-axes,  and  in  about  half  an  hour  after, 
the  fog  cleared  off  and  the  enemy  were  seen  taking  pos 
session  of  the  American  lines. 

2Qth. — General  Washington,  finding  the  city  of  New 


56  MILITARY  JOUEXAL,  1776. 

York  untenable,  lias  removed  his  whole  army  about  nine 
miles  up  the  country;  which  he  effected  in  safety,  though 
uuder  a  heavy  cannonade  from  the  British  shipping. — 
General  Howe  with  his  army  took  immediate  possession 
of  the  city.  Major-General  Sullivan,  who  was  captured 
on  Long  Island,  has  been  permitted  to  return  on  his  parole ; 
and  is  charged  with  a  message  to  Congress  from  Lord 
Howe.  The  purport  of  the  message  is,  that  his  lordship, 
as  commissioner,  could  not  treat  with  Congress,  as  such ; 
but  is  desirous  of  a  conference  with  some  of  the  members, 
as  private  gentlemen.  Congress  could  not  consider  them 
selves  justified  in  sending  any  of  their  members  in  their 
private  character;  but  ever  desirous  of  establishing  peace 
on  reasonable  terms,  offered  to  send  a  committee  to  in 
quire  whether  his  lordship  had  any  authority  to  treat  with 
persons  authorized  by  Congress  for  this  purpose,  and  what 
that  authority  was,  and  to  hear  such  propositions  as  he 
should  think  proper  to  make  respecting  the  same.  They 
accordingly  made  choice  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  John 
Adams,  Esq.  and  Edward  Rutledge,  Esq.,  who  had  an  inter 
view  with  Lord  Howe  on  Staten  Island.  The  first  propo 
sition  from  his  lordship  was,  that  the  colonies  should  return 
to  their  allegiance  and  obedience  to  the  government  of 
Great  Britain.  The  committee  expressed  their  opinion, 
that  a  return  to  the  domination  of  Great  Britian  was  not 
to  be  expected.  They  mentioned  the  repeated  humble 
petitions  of  the  colonies  to  the  king  and  parliament,  which 
had  been  treated  with  contempt,  and  answered  with  addi 
tional  injuries;  the  unexampled  patience  we  had  shown  un 
der  their  tyrannical  government,  and  that  it  was  not  till  the 
last  act  of  Parliament,  which  denounced  war  against  us,  and 
put  us  out  of  the  king's  protection,  that  we  declared  our 
independence;  and  that  it  is  not  now  in  the  power  of  Con 
gress  to  agree  that  the,  people  should  return  to  their  former  de- 
•  pendent  state.  The  committee  reported  to  Congress  that 
it  did  not  appear  that  his  lordship's  commission  contained 
any  other  authority  of  importance  than  what  is  expressed 
in  the  act  of  Parliament,  namely,  that  of  granting  par 
dons,  with  such  exceptions  as  the  commissoners  shall  think 
proper  to  make,  and  of  declaring  America,  or  any  part  of 
it,  to  be  in  the  king's  peace  on  submission.  The  commit 
tee  conducted  the  business  with  great  judgment,  and  in  a 


MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1776.  57 

manner  becoming  the  dignity  of  their  character.  The 
Congress  adopted  no  other  measures  on  this  occasion ;  and 
the  British  commissioners,  finding  that  the  United  States 
could  not  relinquish  their  independency,  published  their 
declaration  to  the  people  at  large,  recommending  to  them 
"to  reflect  seriously  on  their  present  conduct  and  expect 
ations,  and  to  judge  for  themselves,  whether  it  is  more 
consistent  with  their  honor  and  happiness  to  offer  up  their 
lives  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  unjust  and  precarious  cause  in 
which  they  are  engaged,  or  to  return  to  their  allegiance, 
accept  the  blessings  of  peace,  and  be  secured  in  the  free 
enjoyment  of  their  liberties  and  property."  Had  the  de 
claration  of  independence  been  deferred  but  a  few  weeks 
longer,  this  proceeding  of  the  commissioners  might  have 
been  productive  of  consequences  exceedingly  disastrous 
to  our  country.  It  would  probably  have  increased  the 
number  of  opposers  to  the  measure,  and  occasioned  the 
greatest  confusion  and  embarrassment.  It  was  undoubted 
ly  their  object,  by  a  specious  prospect  of  reconciliation,  to 
create  a  division  among  the  colonies  and  people,  and  there 
by  paralyze  their  exertions  and  preparations  for  war.  But 
at  the  present  time,  the  declaration  of  the  king's  commis 
sioners  is  not  calculated  to  effect  the  great  purpose  which 
they  have  in  view ;  the  people  at  large  have  become  too 
wise  to  be  duped  and  cajoled  out  of  their  freedom.  They 
repose  unbounded  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Con 
gress  of  their  choice ;  and  have  no  disposition  to  counter 
act  their  views  or  embarrass  their  counsels.  The  number 
of  individuals,  who  have  accepted  of  the  proffered  condi 
tions,  is  supposed  to  be  very  inconsiderable;  and  by  far 
the  largest  portion  of  them  are. in  the  city  of  New  York 
and  its  immediate  vicinity.  By  a  flag  from  New  York 
we  learn  that,  about  five  days  after  the  British  army  took 
possession  of  that  city,  a  destructive  fire  broke  out,  and 
raged  with  such  violence,  that  about  one  thousand  houses, 
some  of  the  most  superb  buildings,  being  about  one-quar 
ter  of  the  whole  city,  were  consumed.  Some  suspicions 
were  entertained  that  this  disaster  was  occasioned  by 
American  emissaries,  and  several  persons  had  been  treated 
with  great  cruelty,  though  no  proof  was  produced  against 
them.  There  is  on  the  contrary  much  reason  to  conclude 
that  the  conflagration  was  merely  accidental. 


58  MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1776. 

We  have  the  information  that,  before  our  army  evacu 
ated  the  city  of  New  York,  General  Howe's  army  landed, 
under  cover  of  five  ships  of  Avar,  the  British  and  Hessians 
in  two  separate  divisions.  So  soon  as  this  was  announced 
to  our  commander-in-chief,  by  a  heavy  cannonade  from 
the  men  of  war,  he  instantly  rode  toward  our  lines ;  but 
he  was  astonished  and  mortified  to  find  that  the  troops 
which  had  been  posted  there,  and  also  two  brigades  which 
had  been  ordered  to  support  them,  were  retreating  in  great 
confusion  and  disorder.  He  made  every  effort  to  rally 
them,  but  without  success;  they  were  so  panic-struck  that 
even  the  shadow  of  an  enemy  seemed  to  increase  their 
precipitate  flight.  His  excellency,  distressed  and  enraged, 
drew  his  sword  and  snapped  his  pistols,  to  check  them; 
but  they  continued  their  flight  without  firing  a  gun;  and 
the  general,  regardless  of  his  own  safety,  was  in  so  much 
hazard,  that  one  of  his  attendants  seized  the  reins,  and 
gave  his  horse  a  different  direction.  The  following  fact 
is  of  considerable  interest: 

When  retreating  from  New  York,  Major-General  Put 
nam,  at  the  head  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  conti 
nental  troops,  was  in  the  rear,  and  the  last  that  left  the  city. 
In  order  to  avoid  any  of  the  enemy  that  might  be  advan 
cing  in  the  direct  road  to  the  city,  he  made  choice  of  a 
road  parallel  with  and  contiguous  to  the  North  River,  till 
he  could  arrive  at  a  certain  angle,  whence  another  road 
would  conduct  him  in  such  a  direction  as  that  he  might 
form  a  junction  with  our  army.  It  so  happened  that  a 
body  of  about  eight  thousand  British  and  Hessians  were 
at  the  same  moment  advancing  on  the  road,  which  would 
have  brought  them  in  immediate  contact  with  General 
Putnam,  before  he  could  have  reached  the  turn  into  the 
other  ro*ad.  Most  fortunately,  the  British  generals,  seeing 
no  prospect  of  engaging  our  troops,  halted  their  own,  and 
repaired  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Robert  Murray,  a  Quaker 
and  friend  of  our  cause ;  Mrs.  Murray  treated  them  with 
cake  and  wine,  and  they  were  induced  to  tarry  two  hours 
or  more,  Governor  Tryon  frequently  joking  her  about  her 
American  friends.  By  this  happy  incident  General  Put 
nam,  by  continuing  his  march,  escaped  a  rencounter  with 
a  greatly  superior  force,  which  must  have  proved  fatal  to 
his  whole  party.  One  half-hour,  it  is  said,  would  have 


LORD   HOWE. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  IftQ.  59 

been  sufficient  for  the  enemy  to  have  secured  the  road  at 
the  turn,  and  entirely  cut  off  General  Putnam's  retreat. 
It  has  since  become  almost  a  common  saying  among  our 
officers,  that  Mrs.  Murray  saved  this  part  of  the  Ameri 
can  army. 

I  have  collected  from  the  preceding  pages  of  my  Journal 
some  observations  relative  to  the  formation  and  character 
of  our  army.  After  the  battle  at  Lexington,  such  was  the 
enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  so  general  and 
extensive  the  alarm,  that  thousands  of  our  citizens,  who 
were  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  their  farms,  spontane 
ously  rushed  to  the  scene  of  action;  and  an  army  was 
assembled  almost  without  the  efforts  of  public  authority. 
At  this  most  eventful  period,  it  was  the  fond  hope  of  a 
large  proportion  of  our  patriotic  leaders,  that  the  contro 
versy  with  our  parent-country  would  yet  be  compromised 
on  honorable  and  equitable  terms.  Though  the  haughty 
Britons  had  unsheathed  the  sword,  and  shed  the  blood  of 
their  brethren,  it  was  impossible  to  endure  the  idea  that 
our  loyal  and  humble  supplications  to  the  king  could  any 
longer  be  contemptuously  rejected;  more  especially  after 
a  complete  union  of  all  the  colonies  in  a  determined  oppo 
sition  to  their  tyrannical  measures  was  clearly  demon 
strated.  Calculating  therefore  that  the  services  of  an  army 
would  be  required  for  a  short  period  only,  and  the  troops 
in  the  field  consisting  chiefly  of  minute-men,  volunteers 
and  militia,  it  was  a  considerable  time  before  they  were 
regularly  organized  into  regiments  and  brigades.  In  many 
instances  the  soldiers  were  indulged  the  privilege  of  choos 
ing  their  own  officers;  the  consequence  was,  as  might  be 
expected,  that  the  choice  did  not  fall  on  the  most  respect 
able  and  meritorious,  but  on  those  who  were  the  most 
popular  among  the  lower  class ;  and  these  too  frequently 
proved  unqualified  to  discharge  their  military  duties  in  a 
manner  creditable  to  themselves  or  advantageous  to  the 
public  service.  Nor 'was  it  to  be  expected  that  this  de 
scription  of  people  could  appreciate  the  importance  of  the 
great  desiderata  in  all  armies,  discipline  and  subordination. 
It  has  been  found,  by  sad  experience,  that  but  little  depend 
ence  can  be  placed  on  an  army  of  militia,  and  those  whose 
term  of  service  is  so  short  that  they  are  almost  continually 
fluctuating  from  camp  to  their  farms,  and  in  whom  the 
5 


60 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 


noble  spirit  of  patriotism  is  in  a  considerable  degree  ex 
tinguished.  There  is  another  evil  of  a  very  serious  com 
plexion  which  has  manifested  itself  in  our  camp.  Since 
the  troops  from  the  Southern  states  have  been  incorporated 
and  associated  in  military  duty  with  those  from  New  Eng 
land,  a  strong  prejudice  has  assumed  its  unhappy  influence, 
and  drawn  a  line  of  distinction  between  them.  Many  of 
the  officers  from  the  South  are  gentlemen  of  education, 
and  unaccustomed  to  that  equality  which  prevails  in  New 
England;  and,  however  desirable,  it  could  scarcely  be 
expected  that  people  from  distant  colonies,  differing  in 
manners  and  prejudices,  could  at  once  harmonize  in  friendly 
intercourse.  Hence  we  too  frequently  hear  the  burlesque 
epithet  of  Yankee  from  one  partjr,  and  that  of  Buck-skin, 
by  way  of -retort,  from  the  other.  '  The  troops  which  com 
pose  the  continental  army  being  enlisted  for  a  few  months 
only,  their  time  of  service  will  soon  expire.  Congress, 
being  apprised  of  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  permanent 
army,  have  lately  resolved,  "to  raise  a  standing  army  to 
consist  of  about  seventy-five  thousand  men,  to  serve  for 
the  term  of  three  years,  or  during  the  war."  These  troops, 
when  raised,  are  to  be  systematically  arranged  on  the  con 
tinental  establishment,  and  according  to  their  apportion 
ment,  the  quota  of  Massachusetts  is  fifteen  battalions,  or 
about  twelve  thousand  men.  To  encourage  enlistments, 
each  soldier  is  to  receive  a  bounty  of  twenty  dollars,  besides 
his  wages  and  allowance  of  rations,  and  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  if  he  serve  during  the  war.  The  officers  are  to 
receive  land  in  proportion  to  their  respective  ranks,  from 
two  hundred  to  five  hundred  acres.  Their  monthly  pay 
is  to  be  as  follows: 


Colonel,  a  month, $75  00 

Lieutenant-Colonel, GO  00 

Mnjor 5000 

Chaplain, 3333 

Surgeon, 33  33 

Surgeoti's-Mate, 18  00 

Adjutant, 4000 

Quarter-Master, 27  50 

Regimental  Pay-M aster, 26  67 

Captain, 41)  00 


Lieutenant, $27  00 

Ensign, 20  00 

Sergeant-Major, 9  00 

Quarter-Master  Sergeant, 9  00 

Drum-Major, 8  00 

Fife-Major, 8  33 

Sergeant, 8  00 

Corporal, 7  33 

Drummer  and  Fifer, 7  33 

Privates, 6  67 


Each  commissioned  officer'  is  allowed  the  privilege  of 
taking  a  soldier  from  the  ranks  for  a  waiter,  and  he  is_ex- 
empted  from  camp  and  other  duty,  except  in  time  of  action. 


MILITAEY  JOUENAL,  1776.  g^ 

The  officers  are  also  allowed  a  number  of  rations  in  pro 
portion  to  their  i;ank.  A  surgeon  draws  three,  and  a  mate 
two  rations.  One  pound  of  beef  or  pork;  one  pound  of 
bread  or  flour  a  day;  a  small  quantity  of  vegetables,  when 
to  be  had;  one  gill  of  rum  or  whiskey  a  day;  a  small 
quantity  of  vinegar,  salt,  soap  and  candles,  a  week,  con-  : 
stitute  a  ration. 

Ticonderoga  is  situated  on  an  angle  of  land  forming  the 
western  shore  of  Lake  Champlain ;  or  rather  what  is  called 
South  Bay;  being  the  inlet  into  the  lake.  It  is  about 
twelve  miles  south  of  the  old  fortress  at  Crown  Point;  and 
about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  north  of  Albany.  This 
point  of  land  is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  water,  and 
on  the  north-west  side  it  is  well  defended  by  the  old  French 
lines  and  several  block-houses.  The  works  at  this  place 
were  originally  erected  by  the  French,  in  1756,  and  the 
post  was  considered  of  high  importance  by  both  the  French 
and  English,  as  commanding  the  pass  direct  from  Canada 
to  the  provinces  of  New  York  and  New  England.  In  the 
war  between  the  English  and  French,  in  the  year  1759,  it 
was  surrendered  to  General  Amherst,  which  was  a  prelude 
to  the  conquest  of  Canada  by  the  English  an<J  Provincial 
army.  In  1775,  after  the  commencement  of  hostilities  at 
Lexington,  this  post  was  taken  from  the  English,  by  a 
small  party  of  militia  volunteers  under  command  of  Colo 
nel  Allen  and  Colonel  Arnold,  which  put  the  Provincials 
in  possession  of  a  large  number  of  cannon,  mortars  and 
other  ordnance;  a  part  of  which  was  transported  to  Cam 
bridge  during  the  siege  of  Boston.  On  the  east  side  of 
South  Bay,  directly  opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  is  a  high 
circular  hill,  on  the  summit  of  which  our  army  has  erected 
a  strong  fort,  within  which  is  a  square  of  barracks.  This 
is  called  Mount  Independence.  A  communication  is  main 
tained  between  the  two  places  by  a  floating  bridge  thrown 
across  the  lake,  which  is  about  four  hundred  yards  wide. 
The  army  stationed  at  this  post  at  present  is  supposed  to 
consist  of  about  eight  or  ten  thousand  men,  and  Major- 
General  Gates  is  commander-in-chief.  We  have  a  naval 
armament  on  Lake  Champlain,  below  this  garrison,  which 
is  commanded  by  the  intrepid  General  Arnold;  General 
Waterbury  is  second  in  command.  The  British  have  also 
a  naval  armament,  of  superior  force,  at  the  head  of  which 


(32  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

is  the  celebrated  Sir  Guy  Carleton.  Preparations  are 
making  on  both  sides  for  a  vigorous  combat  to  decide 
which  power  shall  have  dominion  on  the  lake  Should 
Sir  Guy  Carleton  be  able  to  defeat  our  fleet,  it  is  supposed 
that  he  will  pursue  his  victorious  career  by  an  attempt  to 
possess  himself  of  this  garrison ;  and  our  troops  are  making 
the  utmost  exertion  to  put  our  works  in  the  best  possible 
state  of  defence.  Each  regiment  has  its  alarm-post  assign 
ed,  and  they  are  ordered  to  repair  to  it,  and  to  man  the 
lines  at  day -light  every  morning.  Among  pur  defensive 
weapons  ar^  poles,  about  twelve  feet  long,  armed  with 
sharp  iron  points,  which  each  soldier  is  to  employ  against 
the  assailants  when  mounting  the  breastworks.  We  are 
happy  to  learn  from  head-quarters  that  the  two  continental 
generals,  taken  in  the  action  on  Long  Island,  Lord  Stirling 
and  Major-General  Sullivan,  have  returned  to  our  camp; 
being  exchanged  for  General  Prescott,  captured  in  Canada, 
and  Governor  Brown,  who  was  brought  off  from  New 
Providence  by  one  of  our  armed  vessels. 

October. — By  some  gentlemen  from  head-quarters,  near 
New  York,  we  are  amused  with  an  account  of  a  singular 
machine,  invented  by  a  Mr.  D.  Bushnell  of  Connecticut, 
for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  British  shipping  by 
explosion.  This  novel  machine  was  so  ingeniously  con 
structed,  that,  on  examination,  Major-General  Putnam 
was  decidedly  of  opinion  that  its  operations  might  be 
attended  with  the  desired  success ;  accordingly  he  encour 
aged  the  inventor,  and  resolved  to  be  himself  a  spectator 
of  the  experiment  on  the  British  shipping  in  New  York 
harbor.  Mr.  Bushnell  gave  to  his  machine  the  name  of 
American  Turtle  or  Torpedo.  It  was  constructed  on  the 
principles  of  submarine  navigation,  and  on  trial  it  has  been 
ascertained  that  it  might  be  rowed  horizontally,  at  any 
given  depth  under  water,  and  the  adventurer,  concealed 
within,  might  rise  or  sink,  as  occasion  requires.  A  mag 
azine  of  powder  was  attached  to  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
be  screwed  into  the  bottom  of  the  ship;  and  being  now 
disengaged  from  the  machine,  the  operator  retires  in  safety, 
leaving  the  internal  clock-work  in  motion;  and  at  the 
distance  of  half  an  hour,  or  an  hour,  the  striking  of  a  gun 
lock  communicates  fire  to  the  powder,  and  the  explosion 
takes  place.  It  was  determined  to  make  the  experiment 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1776.  gg 

with  this  machine  in  the  night,  on  the  ship  Eagle,  of  sixty- 
four  guns,  on  board  of  which  admiral  Lord  Howe  com 
manded.  General  Putnam  placed  himself  on  the  wharf  to 
witness  the  result.  Mr.  Bushnell  had  instructed  his  brother 
in  the  management  of  the  Torpedo  with  perfect  dexterity; 
but  being  taken  sick,  a  sergeant  of  a  Connecticut  regiment 
was  selected  for  the  business,  who,  for  want  of  time,  could 
not  be  properly  instructed.  He,  however,  succeeded  so 
far  as  to  arrive  in  safety  with  his  apparatus  under  the 
bottom  of  the  ship,  when  the  screw,  designed  to  perforate 
the  copper  sheathing,  unfortunately  struck  against  an  iron 
plate,  near  the  rudder,  which,  with  the  strong  current  and 
want  of  skill  in  the  operator,  frustrated  the  enterprise; 
and,  as  day-light  had  begun  to  appear,  the  sergeant  aban 
doned  his  magazine,  and  returned  in  the  Torpedo  to  the 
shore.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  a  terrible  explosion  from 
the  magazine  took  place,  and  threw  into  the  air  a  prodi 
gious  column  of  water,  resembling  a  great  water-spout, 
attended  with  a  report  like  thunder.  General  Putnam 
and  others,  who  waited  with  great  anxiety  for  the  result, 
were  exceedingly  amused  with  the  astonishment  and 
alarm  which  this  secret  explosion  occasioned  on  board  of 
the  ship.  This  failure,  it  is  confidently  asserted,  is  not  to 
be  attributed  to  any  defect  in  the  principles  of  this  won 
derful  machine;  as  it  is  allowed  to  be  admirably  calculated 
to  execute  destruction  among  the  shipping. 

10th. — By  intelligence  from  our  fleet,  on  the  lake,  we 
are  in  daily  expectation  of  a  decisive  naval  action,  as  the 
British  are  known  to  have  a  superior  force;  our  officers, 
here,  I  understand,  are  full  of  anxiety  respecting  the  im 
portant  event.  Great  confidence  is  reposed  in  the  judg 
ment  and  bravery  of  General  Arnold,  whom  General  Gates 
has  appointed  to  command  our  fleet. 

loth. — I  have  now  to  record  an  account  of  a  naval  en 
gagement  between  the  two  fleets  on  Lake  Champlain. 
The  British,  under  command  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  advanced 
on  the  llth  instant,  and  found  our  fleet  in  a  line  of  battle 
prepared  for  the  attack.  A  warm  action  soon  ensued,  and 
became  extremely  close  and  severe,  with  round  and  grape 
shot,  which  continued  about  four  hours*  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Waterbury,  in  the  Washington  galley,  fought  with 
undaunted  bravery,  till  nearly  all  his  officers  were  killed 


64:  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

and  wounded,  and  his  vessel  greatly  injured;  when  Gen 
eral  Arnold  ordered  the  remaining  shattered  vessels  to 
retire  up  the  lake,  towards  Crown  Point,  in  order  to  refit. 
On  the  13th,  they  were  overtaken  by  the  enemy,  and  the 
action  was  renewed,  in  which  was  displayed  the  greatest 
intrepidity  on  both  sides.  The  Washington  galley,  being 
crippled  in  the  first  action,  was  soon  obliged  to  strike  and 
surrender.  General  Arnold  conducted  during  the  action 
with  great  judgment,  firmness  and  gallantry,  obstinately 
defending  himself  against  a  superior  force,  both  in  num 
bers  and  weight  of  metal.  At  length,  however,  he  was  so 
closely  pressed  that  his  situation  became  desperate,  and  he 
run  his  own  vessel,  the  Congress  galley,  on  shore,  which 
with  five  gondolas  were  abandoned  and  blown  up.  Out 
of  sixteen  of  our  vessels,  eleven  were  taken  or  destroyed, 
five  only  arrived  safe  at  this  place.  Two  of  the  enemy's 
gondolas  were  sunk  by  our  fleet,  and  one  blown  up  with 
sixty  men.  Their  loss  in  men  is  supposed  to  be  equal  to 
our  own,  which  is  estimated  at  about  one  hundred.  A 
large  number  of  troops  were  on  board  the  British  fleet, 
consisting  of  regulars,  Canadians  and  savages,  which  have 
been  landed  on  each  side  of  the  lake,  and  it  is  now  expected 
that  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  at  the  head  of  his  army,  reported 
to  be  about  ten  thousand  strong,  will  soon  invest  this  post. 
By  order  of  General  Gates,  our  commander,  the  greatest 
exertions  are  constantly  making,  by  strengthening  our 
works,  to  enable  us  to  give  them  a  warm  reception ;  and 
our  soldiery  express  a  strong  desire  to  have  an  opportunity 
of  displaying  their  courage  and  prowess;  both  officers  and 
men  are  full  of  activity  and  vigilance. 

I8lh. — It  is  now  ascertained  that  the  British  army  and 
fleet  have  established  themselves  at  Crown  Point,  and  are 
strengthening  the  old  fortifications  at  that  place.  Some 
of  their  vessels  have  approached  within  a  few  miles  of  our 
garrison,  and  one  boat  came  within  cannon-shot  distance 
of  our  lower  battery,  in  order  to  reconnoitre  and  sound 
the  channel;  but  a  few  shot  having  killed  two  men,  and 
wounded  another,  soon  obliged  her  to  retire.  All  our 
troops  are  ordered  to  repair  to  their  alarm  posts,  and  man 
the  lines*and  works;  every  morning,  our  continental  colors 
are  advantageously  displayed  on  the  ramparts,  and 'our 
cannon  and  spears  are  in  readiness  for  action. 


MILITARY  JOUBXAL,  1776.  $5 

20th. — Ever  since  the  defeat  of  our  fleet  we  have  been 
providentially  favored  with  a  strong  southerly  wind,  which 
has  prevented  the  enemy's  advancing  to  attack  our  lines, 
and  afforded  us  time  to  receive  some  reinforcements  of 
militia,  and  to  prepare  for  a  more  vigorous  defence.  It 
seems  now  to  be  the  opinion  of  many  of  our  most  judicious 
officers,  that  had  Sir  Guy  Carleton  approached  with  his 
army,  immediately  after  his  victory  on  the  lake,  the  strug 
gle  must  have  been  most  desperate,  and  the  result  precari 
ous;  but  we  now  feel  more  confidence  in  our  strength. 

Several  letters,  lately  received  from  Canada,  acknowl 
edge  that  no  man  ever  manoeuvred  with  more  dexterity, 
fought  with  more  bravery,  or  retreated  with  more  firmness, 
than  did  General  Arnold  on  the  llth  and  12th  instant. 
After  making  every  effort  to  compensate,  by  the  advantage 
of  situation,  for  the  inferiority  of  force,  and  seeing  his  own 
vessel,  and  the  rest,  torn  to  pieces  by  the  superior  weight 
of  metal,  and  the  execution  of  the  enemy's  howitzers,  he 
set  fire  to  his  vessel,  and  would  not  quit  her  till  she  was 
so  completely  in  flames  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  enemy 
to  strike  her  colors  on  their  arrival,  and  they  were  left 
flying  among  the  flames  to  the  last.  This,  says  one  of  the 
letters,  was  supporting  a  point  of  honor  in  a  manner  al 
most  romantic;  yet  so  it  was. 

November  1st. — The  enemy  remain  at  Crown  Point,  and 
evince  no  disposition  to  molest  our  garrison,  having  prob 
ably  discovered  that  our  means  of  defence  are  too  formi 
dable  for  them  to  encounter.  General  Gates  has  now 
ordered  a  detachment  of  troops  to  march  towards  Crown 
Point,  to  reconnoitre  their  position,  or  to  attack  them. 
A  report  was  soon  returned  that  the  whole  fleet  and  army 
have  abandoned  Crown  Point,  and  retired  into  Canada, 
where  they  will  probably  occupy  their  winter-quarters  in 
peace,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  Sir  Guy  Carleton  intends 
to  invest  our  garrison,  at  this  advanced  season,  unless, 
however,  he  should  attempt  it  by  marching  his  army  over 
the  ice,  when  the  lake  is  frozen,  which  will  probably  be 
very  practicable. 

15^/z. — Ticonderoga  is  situated  in  about  latitude  forty- 
four  degrees.  I  have  no  means  in  possession  of  ascertain 
ing  the  precise  degree  of  cold;  but  we  all  agree  that  it  is 
colder  here  than  in  Massachusetts  at  the  same  season.  The 


66  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

earth  has  not  yet  been  covered  with  snow,  but  the  frost  is 
so  considerable  that  the  water  of  the  lake  is  congealed, 
and  the  earth  is  frozen.  We  are  comfortably  situated  in 
our  barracks;  our  provisions  are  now  good,  and  having 
no  enemy  near  enough  to  alarm  or  disturb  us,  we  have 
nothing  of  importance  to  engage  our  attention.  Our 
troops  are  quite  healthy,  a  few  cases  of  rheumatism  and 
pleurisy  comprise  our  sick-list,  and  it  is.  seldom  that  any 
fatal  cases  occur. 

December  Wth. — Intelligence  has  lately  arrived  at  head 
quarters  here,  that  a  British  fleet,  and  a  detachment  of 
five  or  six  thousand  of  the  royal  army  have  taken  posses 
sion  of  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  without  any  opposition; 
many  of  the  inhabitants  being  friendly  to  the  royal  cause, 
they  were  received  as  friends.  By  letters  from  officers, 
and  by  other  information  from  our  main  army,  we  learn 
with  sorrow  that  our  affairs  in  that  quarter  are  in  a  most 
deplorable  and  almost  desperate  situation.  Since  the 
evacuation  of  New  York,  several  battles  and  skirmishes 
have  taken  place  between  the  two  armies,  with  consider 
able  loss  on  both  sides ;  but  his  excellency  the  commander- 
in-chief  has  constantly  avoided  a  general  action.  Fort 
Washington  and  Fort  Lee  have  fallen  into  the  harfds  of 
the  enemy,  with  a  considerable  number  of  prisoners ;  and 
our  army  being  reduced  to  the  lowest  ebb,  discouraged 
and  dispirited,  are  retreating  through  the  Jerseys,  and  the 
enemy  in  close  pursuit.  The  continental  army  has  even 
crossed  the  Delaware,  and  left  the  whole  state  of  Jersey  in 
the  possession  of  the  royal  army. 

20th. — Another  disaster  of  much  importance  is  the  cap 
ture  of  Major-General  Lee;  on  the  13th  instant,  marching 
at  the  head  of  his  division  to  join  the  main  army,  he  very 
incautiously  took  up  his  lodgings  at  a  house  three  or  four 
miles  from  his  troops.  Information  of  this  was,  by  some 
tories,  communicated  to  Colonel  Harcourt  of  the  British 
light-horse,  who  resolved  to  attempt  his  capture.  Accord 
ingly,  with  a  detachment  of  dragoons,  he  speedily  sur 
rounded  the  house;  made  General  Lee  his  prisoner,  and 
not  permitting  him  time  to  take  his  cloak  and  hat,  mounted 
him  on  a  horse,  and  in  triumph  conveyed  him  to  New 
York.  The  loss  of  this  favorite  general  officer,  it  is  feared, 
will  be  attended  with  very  serious  consequences,  as  respects 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1776.  (57 

the  American  cause.  He  was  from  his  youth  an  officer  in 
the  British  service,  where  he  sustained  a  reputation  of  the 
highest  grade,  as  a  brave  and  skilful  warrior.  Having 
adopted  our  country,  and  become  a  zealous  advocate  for 
its  liberties,  he  had  acquired  the  confidence  and  highest 
regard  of  the  public,  and  was  exalted  to  the  rank  of  second 
in  command  in  our  army. 

Such  is  now  the  gloomy  aspect  of  our  affairs  that  the 
whole  country  has  taken  the  alarm ;  strong  apprehensions 
are  entertained  that  the  British  will  soon  have  it  in  their 
power  to  vanquish  the  whole  of  the  remains  of  the  con 
tinental  army.  The  term  of  service  of  a  considerable 
part  of  our  troops  has  nearly  expired,  and  new  recruits 
do  not  arrive  in  sufficient  numbers  to  supply  their  places. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington  is  continually  making 
every  possible  effort  to  produce  a  change  of  circumstan 
ces  more  auspicious  to  our  country.  The  critical  and  dis 
tressing  situation  in  which  he  is  placed  is  sufficient  to 
overwhelm  the  powers  of  any  man  of  less  wisdom  and 
magnanimity  than  our  commander-in-chief.  He  has  the 
confidence  and  the  affection  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
the  whole  army;  and  there  is  not  perhaps  another  man  to 
be  found  so  well  calculated  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his 
important  and  responsible  station.  It  is  generally  agreed 
by  our  officers  that,  in  his  retreat  through  the  Jerseys  and 
over  the  Delaware,  under  the  most  pressing  difficulties,  he 
displayed  the  talents  and  wisdom  characteristic  of  a  great 
military  commander,  possessing  unfailing  resources  of 
mind.  While  retreating  through  the  Jerseys  with  an 
army  not  exceeding  three  thousand  five  hundred  men, 
and  deeming  our  cause  as  almost  desperate,  he  said  to 
Colonel  Eeed,  passing  his  hand  over  his  throat,  "My  neck 
does  not  feel  as  though  it  was  made  for  a  halter:  we  must 
retire  to  Augusta  county  in  Virginia,  and  if  overpovverd 
we  must  pass  the  Alleghany  mountains."  General  Wash 
ington  at  this  time  was  suffering  the  most  agonizing  dis 
tress  for  the  fate  of  his  army  and  his  country. 

The  king's  commissioners,  flushed  with  the  success  of  the 
royal  army,  have  availed  themselves  of  the  occasion,  and  put 
forth  another  proclamation,  granting  pardons  to  all  those 
who  shall  within  sixty  days  subscribe  a  declaration  to  re 
main  peaceable,  not  to  take  up  arms,  nor  encourage  others 


68  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

to  net  against  the  king's  authority;  and  at  the  same  time, 
they  charge  and  command  all  who  are  assembled  in  arms 
against  his  majesty  to  disband,  and  all  under  the  names 
of  general  and  Provincial  Congress  committees,  &c.  to  de 
sist  from  their  treasonable  practices,  and  relinquish  their 
usurped  power  within  sixty  days  from  the  date  of  the 
proclamation. 

This  production,  couched  in  the  haughty  style  of  royal 
authority,  demands  submission  of  those  who  have  long 
since  been  compelled  to  abjure  all  allegiance  to  the  British 
crown.  How  far  the  people  of  this  continent  may  be 
disposed  to  retrace  their  steps,  to  abandon  the  government 
of  their  choice,  relinquish  their  independence  and  succumb 
to  arbitrary  power,  is  a  point  to  be  decided  within  sixty 
days.  However  apparently  forlorn  is  our  situation,  we 
presume  to  hope  that  his  majesty's  commissioners  will  not 
realize  their  sanguine  expectations,  though  British  clem 
ency  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  gallows  on  the  other,  may 
be  the  alternative.  The  Congress  resolved,  on  the  12th 
instant,  that  it  be  recommended  to  all  the  United  States  as 
soon  as  possible  to  appoint  a  day  of  fasting  and  humiliation. 
This  is  according  to  the  custom  of  our  pious  ancestors  in 
times  of  imminent  dangers  and  difficulties.  Considering 
the  rapid  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  knowing  it  to  be 
their  intention  to  possess  themselves  of  the  city  of  Phila 
delphia,  the  Congress  have  resolved  to  retire  to  Baltimore 
in  Maryland.  They  have  also  ordered,  that  hand-bills  be 
circulated  through  the  states  with  the  view  of  rousing  the 
whole  people  to  a  sense  of  the  impending  danger,  and  the 
calamities  that  will  ensue  should  the  enemy  succeeded  in 
the  attempt  to  get  possession  of  the  capital. 

2Qth.—A  singular  kind  of  riot  took  place  in  our  barracks 
last  evening,  attended  by  some  unpleasant  consequences. 
Colonel  A.  W.  of  Massachusetts,  made  choice  of  his  two 
sons,  who  were  soldiers  in  his  regiment,  to  discharge  the 
menial  duties  of  waiters,  and  one  of  them  having  been 
brought  up  a  shoe-maker,  the 'colonel  was  so  inconsiderate 
as  to  allow  him  to  work  on  his  bench  in  the  same  room  with 
himself.  The  ridiculous  conduct  has  for  some  time  drawn 
on  the  good  old  man  the  contemptuous  sneers  of  the 
gentlemen  officers,  especially  those  from  Pennsylvania. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  of  Wayne's  regiment,  being  warmed 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  $9 

with,  wine,  took  on  himself  the  task  of  reprehending  the 
"Yankee"  colonel  for  thus  degrading  his  rank.  With  this 
view  he  rushed  into  the  room  in  the  evening,  and  soon 
despatched  the  shoe-maker's  bench;  after  which,  he  made 
an  assault  on  the  colonel's  person,  and  bruised  him  severely. 
The  noise  and  confusion  soon  collected  a  number  of  offi 
cers  and  soldiers,  and  it  was  a  considerable,  time  before 
the  rioters  could  be  quelled.  Some  of  the  soldiers  of 
Colonel  Wayne's  regiment  actually  took  to  their  arms  and 
dared  the  Yankees,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  extremity 
of  firing  their  guns.  About  thirty  or  forty  rounds  were 
aimed  at  the  soldiers  of  our  regiment,  who  were  driven 
from  their  huts  and  barracks,  and  several  of  them  were 
severely  wounded.  Colonel  C.,  in  making  an  assault  on 
a  superior  officer,  and  encouraging  a  riot,  is  guilty  of  one 
of  the  highest  crimes  in  our  articles  of  war.  It  was  in 
the  power  of  Colonel  W.,  and  in  fact  it  was  his  duty,  to 
bring  the  audacious  offenders  to  exemplary  punishment; 
but,  as  if  to  complete  the  disgrace  of  the  transaction,  Colo 
nel  C.  sent  some  soldiers  into  the  woods  to  shoot  a  fat  bear, 
with  which  he  made  an  entertainment,  and  invited  Colonel 
W.  and  his  officers  to  partake  of  it;  this  effected  a  recon 
ciliation;  and  Colonel  W.  was  induced  to*  overlook  the 
high-handed  assault  on  his  own  person  and  on  the  lives 
of  his  soldiers.  Our  colonel  is  a  serious,  good  man,  but 
is  more  conversant  with  the  economy  of  domestic  life  than  , 
the  etiquette  practised  in  camp. 

January  oth. — At  the  close  of  the  last  year,  the  situation 
of  our  main  army  was  gloomy  and  discouraging:  a  large 
proportion  of  the  troops  had  retired  from  service,  as  their 
term  of  enlistment  expired,  and  the  small  remains  of  our 
army  was  retreating  before  the  enemy,  and  passed  the 
Delaware  for  safety.  It  is  now  announced  in  our  general 
orders,  to  our  inexpressible  joy  and  satisfaction,  that  the 
scene  is  in  some  degree  changed,  the  fortune  of  war  is  re 
versed,  and  Providence  has  been  pleased  to  crown  the 
efforts  of  our  commander-in-chief  with  a  splendid  victory. 
His  excellency,  having  obtained  information  that  the  ad 
vanced  party  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  about  fifteen 
hundred  Hessians  and  British  light-horse,  under  command 
of  Colonel  Rahl,  was  stationed  at  the  village  of  Trenton, 
concerted  a  plan  for  taking  them  by  surprise.  For  this 


70  MILITAEY  JOUKNAL,  1777. 

purpose  lie  made  choice  of  Christmas  night,  under  the 
idea  that  in  consequence  of  the  festivity,  they  might  be 
less  vigilantly  guarded.  At  this  time  the  whole  force 
under  his  immediate  command  did  not  exceed  three  thou 
sand  men.  At  the  head  of  about  two  thousand  four  hun 
dred  men,  one  division  being  commanded  by  General 
Greene  and  the  other  by  General  Sullivan,  he  crossed  the 
river  Delaware  in  boats,  in  the  night  of  the  25th  of  De 
cember,  during  a  severe  storm  of  snow  and  rain.  The 
passage  of  the  boats  was  rendered  extremely  difficult  and 
hazardous  by  the  ice,  and  part  of  the  troops  and  cannon 
actually  failed  in  the  attempt.  Having  landed  on  the 
Jersey  shore,  he  had  nine  miles  to  march,  and  he  reached 
the  village  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  with  such 
promptitude  and  secrecy,  as  to  attack  the  enemy  almost 
as  soon  as  his  approach  was  discovered.  A  smart  firing 
ensued,  which  continued  but  a  few  minutes,  when  the 
enemy,  finding  themselves  surrounded,  threw  down  their 
arms  and  surrendered  as  prisoners.  Colonel  Kahl,  the 
commanding  officer,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  seven 
other  officers  were  wounded  and  left  at  Trenton  on  their 
parole.  About  thirty-five  soldiers  were  killed,  sixty 
wounded,  and  nine  hundred  and  forty-eight,  including 
thirty  officers,  were  taken  prisoners,  amounting  in  all  to 
one  thousand  and  forty-eight.  Of  the  Continentals  not 
more  than  ten,  it  is  supposed,  were  killed  and  wounded. 
General  Washington  recrossed  the  Delaware  the  same  day 
in  triumph,  bringing  off  six  excellent  brass  cannon,  about 
one  thousand  two  hundred  small  arms,  and  three  standards, 
with  a  quantity  of  baggage,  &c.  This  very  brilliant 
achievement  is  highly  honorable  to  the  commander-in- 
chief,  and  to  all  that  were  engaged  in  the  enterprise.  We 
are  sanguine  in  the  hope  that  this  most  auspicious  event 
will  be  productive  of  the  happiest  effects,  by  inspiriting 
our  dejected  army,  and  dispelling  that  panic  of  despair 
into  which  the  people  have  been  plunged.  General 
Washington  allowed  the  Hessian  prisoners  to  retain  their 
baggage,  and  sent  them  into  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania, 
ordering  that  they  be  treated  with  favor  and  humanity. 
This  conduct,  so  contrary  to  their  expectations,  excited 
their  gratitude  and  veneration  for  their  amiable  conqueror, 
whom  they  styled,  "a  very  good  rebel." 


M1LITAEY  JOURNAL,  1777.  71 

15th. — By  some  friends  from  the  main  army,  and  from 
current  report,  it  appears  that  the  British,  having  overrun 
the  Jerseys,  considered  the  Continental  army  as  on  the 
point  of  annihilation,  and  flattered  themselves  that  what 
they  term  the  rebellion,  is  effectually  crushed.  In  their 
march  through  the  Jerseys  they  have  committed  such 
licentious  ravages  and  desolation,  as  must  be  deemed  dis 
graceful  by  all  civilized  people ;  an  indiscriminate  robbery 
and  plundering  mark  every  step  of  their  progress;  rapine 
and  murder,  without  distinction  of  friend  or  foe,  age  or 
sex,  has  been  put  in  practice  with  an  inexorable  spirit, 
and  countenanced  by  officers  of  rank  and  distinction. 
Even  those  unfortunate  inhabitants  who  have  been  deluded 
by  their  promises,  and  received  printed  protections,  are 
equally  sufferers  by  these  cruel  and  atrocious  wretches. 
Hundreds  of  inhabitants,  both  male  and  female,  have  been 
deprived  of  their  dwellings  and  sustenance,  stripped  of 
their  clothing,  and  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the  winter, 
and  to  personal  insult  and  abuse  of  almost  every  descrip 
tion.  But  their  wicked  career  is  about  to  be  checked. 
Providence  will  not  suffer  such  enormities  to  be  perpetrated 
with  impunity.  Those  miserable  inhabitants,  whose  lives 
have  been  spared,  are  driven  to  desperation,  and  feel  that 
they  have  no  hope  but  in  the  extirpation  of  their  cruel 
enemies.  The  people  who  have  been  subdued  have,  with 
a  noble  spirit,  risen  on  their  conquerors,  and  are  resolved 
to  revenge  the  injuries  which  they  have  suffered. 

We  are  now  informed  of  another  very  important  advan 
tage  which  General  Washington  has  gained  over  the  royal 
army  by  means  of  a  well-concerted  stratagem.  After  his 
success  at  Trenton,  General  Washington  received  consid 
erable  reinforcements  of  troops  from  Virginia  and  Mary 
land,  and  some  regiments  of  militia,  which  enabled  him 
again  to  cross  the  Delaware  into  the  Jerseys  and  face  the 
enemy.  While  at  Trenton,  Lord  Cornwallis  advanced  to 
attack  him,  and  a  severe  cannonade  commenced.  In  the 
evening,  General  Washington  ordered  a  great  number 
of  fires  to  be  lighted  up,  and  leaving  a  sufficient  number 
of  men  to  keep  them  burning  during  the  night,  to  deceive 
the  enemy,  stole  a  march  with  his  main  army,  taking  a 
circuitous  route,  and,  at  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning, 
attacked  three  regiments  of  the  British  who  were  posted 


72  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

at  Princeton,  routed  them,  and  drove  them  from  their  re 
doubts.  By  this  masterly  manoeuvre,  the  enemy  lost  about 
five  hundred  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  loss 
on  our  side  is  very  inconsiderable  in  point  of  numbers, 
but  we  have  to  lament  the  death  of  Brigadier-General 
Mercer,  a  brave  officer,  who  commanded  the  Virginia  mil 
itia.  The  fact  is  published,  that  after  General  Mercer  sur 
rendered  himself,  the  enemy,  deaf  to  the  voice  of  humanity, 
stabbed  him  with  their  bayonets,  and  with  the  butt  end 
of  a  musket  battered  and  disfigured  his  face  in  a  savage 
manner.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  on  this  memorable 
occasion  Lord  Cornwallis  was  completely  out-generaled; 
while  he  was  expecting  to  find  the  Continental  army  at 
their  lighted  fires  at  Trenton,  he  was  astonished  and  con 
founded  to  hear  the  firing  occasioned  by  this  same  army, 
beating  up  their  quarters  twelve  miles  in  his  rear.  His 
lordship  immediately  repaired  by  a  forced  march  to  Prince 
ton,  but  arrived  too  late  to  retaliate  on  his  vigilant 
antagonist,  who  had  taken  up  his  route  to  Morristown. 
Finding  that  the  Continentals  were  out  of  his  reach,  his 
lordship  proceeded  without  halting  to  Brunswick.  Strat 
agems  in  war,  when  wisely  concerted,  and  judiciously  ex 
ecuted,  are  considered  as  characterizing  a  military  genius 
of  superior  order,  and  is  a  quality  of  inestimable  value  in 
every  commander.  It  is  often  exultingly  remarked  in  our 
camp,  that  Washington  was  born  for  the  salvation  of  his 
country,  and  that  he  is  endowed  with  all  the  talents  and 
abilities  necessary  to  qualify  him  for  the  great  undertaking. 
The  militia  of  Jersey,  immediately  on  their  being  liberated 
from  the  control  of  the  British,  flew  to  arms,  exasperated 
and  stimulated  by  a  recollection  of  their  sufferings,  and 
have  become  their  most  bitter  and  determined  enemies ; 
and  are  very  active  and  vigilant  in  harassing  them  on  all 
occasions,  keeping  a  ^continual  watch,  and  cutting  off  "small 
parties  whenever  opportunities  offer.  It  is  gratifying  to 
the  army  that  Congress  have  conferred  on  their  General 
issimo  more  ample  powers,  and  appointed  him  Dictator  for 
the  limited  term  of  six  months;  to  reform  and  new-model 
the  military  arrangements,  in  such  manner  as  he  may 
judge  most  advantageous  for  the  public  service.  Much 
good  is  expected  to  result  from  this  measure. 

30th. — It  is  with  infinite  satisfaction  we  learn  that  the 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1777.  73 

royal  army  has  been  compelled  to  quit  almost  every  part 
of  the  Jerseys,  and  that  our  army  is  pursuing  them  from 
post  to  post,  and  they  find  no  security  but  in  the  vicinity 
of  their  shipping. 

General  Washington  has  issued  a  proclamation,  com 
manding  all  persons  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance 
,to  Great  Britain,  and  accepted  protections  and  certificates, 
to  deliver  up  the  same,  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  United  States — granting  at  the  same  time  full  liberty 
to  all  those  who  prefer  the  protection  of  Great  Britain  to 
the  freedom  and  happiness  of  their  country,  forthwith  to 
withdraw  themselves  and  families  to  the  enemy's  lines. 

The  winter  hitherto  has  been  mild  and  temperate ;  Lake 
Champlain  is  now  frozen  over,  and  the  ice  is  about  one 
foot  thick ;  the  earth  is  covered  with  snow,  but  the  storms 
have  not  been  very  violeat,  and  the  cold  not  so  intense  as 
might  be  expected  in  a  northern  climate.  There  have 
been  frequent  instances  of  persons  being  detected  lurking 
about  the  country  who  are  employed  by  the  enemy  in  en 
listing  soldiers  for  the  tory  regiments  in  New  York.  In 
order  effectually  to  prevent  this  nefarious  conduct,  every 
person  of  this  description  who  may  fall  into  our  hands  is 
to  be  tried  by  a  court  martial,  and  if  found  guilty,  will  be 
executed  as  a  spy.  A  few  days  since  one  Daniel  Strong 
was  found  lurking  about  our  army  at  Peekskill,  and  on 
examination  enlisting  orders  were  found  sewed  in  his 
clothes;  he  was  immediately  tried  as  a  spy  from  the  ene 
my,  sentenced  to  suffer  death,  and  was  executed  accordingly. 

February. — The  present  unfortunate  situation  of  General 
Lee,  who  is  in  close  confinement  in  the  provost  prison,  in 
New  York,  affords  a  topic  for  general  conversation  both 
in  and  out  of  the  army.  A  correspondence  between  Geti- 
eral  Washington  and  General  Howe  has  taken  place  rela 
tive  to  the  subject,  from  which  it  appears  that  General  Lee 
receives  the  most  rigid  and  ungenerous  treatment,  under 
the  absurd  pretence  that  he  is  a  deserter  from  the  British 
service,  when  it  is  well  known  that  he  resigned  his  com 
mission  long  before  he  recewed  an  appointment  in  our 
army.  As  we  have  not  in  our  possession  any  British 
officers  of  equal  rank,  General  Washington  has  proposed 
to  make  an  exchange  of  six  Hessian  field-officers  for  Gen 
eral  Lee,  that  being  considered  as  the  usual  proportion  for 


74  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

the  disparity  of  rank.  This  proposal  being  rejected,  his 
excellency  next  required  of  General  Howe,  that  General 
Lee  should  receive  from  his  hands  treatment  suitable  to 
his  rank,  and  such  as  the  custom  of  all  armies  has  pre 
scribed  for  prisoners  of  war.  If  this  should  be  refused, 
General  Howe  was  assured,  that  the  unpleasant  expedient 
of  retaliation  should  be  immediately  adopted.  This  un 
happy  affair  soon  arrested  the  attention  of  Congress,  and 
they  resolved  "that  General  Washington  inform  General 
Howe,  that  should  the  proffered  exchange  of  General  Lee 
not  be  accepted,  and  the  ill  treatment  of  him  be  continued, 
the  principle  of  retaliation  shall  occasion  five  of  the  Hes 
sian  field-officers,  together  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  A. 
Campbell,  or  any  other  officers  that  are  or  may  be  in  our 
possession,  equivalent  in  number  or  quality,  to  be  detained 
in  order  that  the  same  treatment  which  General  Lee  shall 
receive  may  be  exactly  inflicted  on  their  persons."  The 
result  of  this  unfortunate  business  is,  that  the  threatened 
retaliation  has  been  resorted  to  on  our  part,  and  that 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell  and  five  Hessian  field-officers 
are  committed  to  prison,  and  subjected  to  the  same  rigor 
ous  treatment  which  it  has  been  ascertained  is  inflicted 
on  the  person  of  General  Lee.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Camp 
bell,  being  on  parole  near  Boston,  is  confined  in  the  jail  at 
Concord.  In  a  letter  to  General  Howe,  which  has  been 
published,  after  acknowledging  the  liberal  and  generous 
attention  which  he  had  previously  received,  he  describes 
his  present  condition  as  being  most  horrid,  and  in  his  view 
altogether  unjustifiable.  It  remains  therefore  with  General 
Howe  to  afford  to  Colonel  Campbell  all  the  relief  which 
he  desires,  and  extend  to  him  all  the  comforts  and  privi 
leges  which  his  rank  demands,  by  first  relaxing  his  sever 
ity,  and  complying  with  the  rules  of  war,  as  respects 
General  Lee;  it  being  the  determination  of  our  govern 
ment  to  place  the  British  prisoners  in  precisely  the  same 
circumstances  with  our  prisoners  in  their  custody.  My 
leisure  hours  permit  me  to  advert  to  another  subject  which 
excites  the  interest  and  the4  inexpressible  indignation  of 
every  American.  I  allude  to  the  abominable  conduct  of 
the  British  commanders  towards  our  unfortunate  officers 
and  soldiers,  who,  by  the  fortune  of  war,  have  fallen  into 
their  hands.  In  all  countries  and  armies,  prisoners  of  war 


BRIGADIER   GENERAL   HENRY   LEE> 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  75 

Lave  a  just  claim  on  the  duties  of  humanity;  from  the 
moment  of  their  captivity  hostilities  should  cease,  the  sword 
should  be  sheathed;  being  themselves  disarmed,  no  arm 
can  of  right  be  lifted  against  them,  and  while  they  conduct 
in  a  manner  becoming  their  condition,  they  are  entitled  to 
the  customary  immunities  and  to  be  treated  with  lenity. 
Among  the  savage  tribes  we  know  their  captives  are  tor 
tured  by  fire,  by  the  seal  ping-knife,  and  the  tomahawk,  but 
we  are  yet,  and,  for  the  honor  of  human  nature,  hope  we 
ever  shall  remain,  unacquainted  with  any  civilized  nation, 
except  the  English,  who  devote  their  captives  to  various 
forms  of  destruction.  It  would  seem  that  the  application 
of  the  term  rebel  to  our  prisoners,  is  sufficient  to  reconcile 
the  consciences  of  their  victors  to  inflict  on  them  the  most 
unprecedented  cruelties.  The  following  is  a  brief  sum 
mary  of  the  sj^stematic  method  adopted  and  practised  for 
their  destruction,  as  taken  from  the  New  London  Gazette, 
from  General  Washington's  letter  of  complaint  to  General 
Howe,  arid  from  the  verbal  statement  of  the  officers  and 
soldiers  who  have  returned  from  New  York  by  exchange. 
They  were  crowded  into  the  holds  of  prison-ships,  where 
they  were  almost  suffocated  for  want  of  air,  and  into 
churches,  and  open  sugar-houses,  &c.,  without  covering  or 
a  spark  of  fire.  Their  allowance  of  provisions  and  water 
for  three  days,  was  insufficient  for  one,  and  in  some  instan 
ces,  they  were  for  four  days  entirely  destitute  of  food. 
The  pork  and  bread,  for  they  had  no  other  sustenance, 
and  even  the  water  allowed  them,  were  of  the  worst  pos 
sible  quality,  and  totally  unfit  for  human  beings.  A 
minute  detail  of  their  dreadful  sufferings  would  only  serve 
to  harrow  up  the  feelings  of  surviving  friends ;  as  a  gross 
outrage  against  the  principles  of  humanity,  suffice  it  to 
say,  that  in  consequence  of  the  most  barbarous  treatment, 
died  within  a  few  weeks,  not  less  than  fifteen  hundred 
American  soldiers,  brave  young  men,  the  pride  and  shield 
of  our  country.  After  death  had  released  the  sufferers, 
their  bodies  were  dragged  out  of  .the  prisons,  and  piled  up 
without  doors,  till  enough  were  collected  for  a  cart-load, 
when  they  were  carted  out  and  tumbled  into  a  ditch,  and 
slightly  covered  with  earth.  Besides  the  above  diabolical 
treatment,  the  prisoners  were  continually  insulted  and  tan 
talized  by  the  British  officers  and  malicious  tories,  cursing 
6 


76  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

and  swearing  at  them  as  rebels,  saying,  "this  is  the  just 
punishment  of  your  rebellion;  nay,  you  are  treated  too 
well  for  rebels,  you  have  not  received  half  you  deserve, 
and  half  you  shall  receive;  but  if  you  will  enlist  in  his 
majesty's  service,  you  shall  have  victuals  and  clothing 
enough."  Thus  these  callous-hearted  Englishmen  meanly 
endeavored  to  augment  the  royal  army  by  the  enlistment 
of  American  prisoners,  or  to  diminish  the  number  of  their 
opposers;  but  such  was  the  integrity  and  patriotism  of 
these  men,  that  hundreds  submitted  to  death  rather  than 
become  rebels  to  their  native  country.  In  one  instance, 
four  of  our  wounded  officers,  of  respectable  rank,  were 
put  into  a  common  dirt-cart,  and  conveyed  through  the 
streets  of  New  York  as  objects  of  derision,  reviled  as 
rebels,  and  treated  with  the  utmost  contempt.*  But,  it 
may  be  inquired,  if  I  mean  to  describe  the  British  com 
manders  as  transformed  into  demons? 

I  only  record  notorious  facts,  and  it  is  not  my  journal, 
but  the  faithful  and  impartial  pages  of  history  that  will 
transmit  to  posterity  this  stigma  on  the  English  character. 
Gracious  Heavens!  are  these  the  people  from  whom  we  de 
rive  our  origin,  and  who  are  inviting  the  Americans  to  a 
reconciliation?  A  more  dreadful  curse  can  scarcely  be  de 
nounced  !  It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  the  British  and 
Hessian  prisoners  in  our  hands  were  treated  in  a  manner 
directly  the  reverse  of  that  just  described,  and  they  never 
found  cause  to  complain.  It  is  some  satisfaction  to ,  find, 
that  since  the  brilliant  success  of  our  army  in  the  Jerseys, 
and  a  considerable  number  of  British  and  Hessians  having 
fallen  into  our  hands,  the  cruel  severities  inflicted  on  our 

*  A  friend  who  was  unfortunately  a  prisoner  in  Ne\v  York,  has 
recently  favored  me  with  the  following  facts:  In  1776,  a  number  of 
prisoners  were  made  by  the  British  in  our  retreat  from  Long  Island. 
Among  others,  a  Lieutenant  Dunscomb,  of  New  York.  He  and  his 
fellow- officers  were  ordered  before  the  commanding-general,  who,  in 
harsh  language,  reproached  them  for  their  crime  of  rebellion  and  its 
necessary  consequences.  A  gentleman  present,  began  to  plead  their 
youth  as  an  apology.  It  won't  do,  said  General  Howe,  you  shall  all  be 
hanged!  "Hang,  and  be  d — d,"  said  Dunscomb.  They  hanged  no  one 
that  I  know  of,  but  they  played  the  fool  by  going  through  the  farce  of 
milking  them  ride  with  a  rope  round  their  necks  seated  on  coffins  to 
the  gallows.  Otho  Williams,  subsequently  adjutant-general  to  the 
southern  army,  and  a  most  worthy  and  amiable  gentleman,  I  particu 
larly  know  was  treated  in  this  manner. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  77 

prisoners  have  been  in  some  degree  mitigated.  To  the 
foregoing  unparalleled  catalogue  of  criminal  proceedings, 
I  have  to  add,  from  another  writer,  that  the  enemy  wan 
tonly  destroyed  the  New  York  water- works,  an  elegant 
public  library  at  Trenton,  and  the  grand  orrery  made 
by  the  celebrated  Kittenhouse,  which  was  placed  in  the 
college  at  Princeton,  a  piece  of  mechanism  which  the  most 
untutored  savage,  staying  the  hand  of  violence,  would 
have  beheld  with  wonder  and  delight.  Thus  are  our  cruel 
enemies  warring  against  liberty,  virtue  and  the  arts  and 
sciences.  To  make  war  against  literature  and  learning  is 
the  part  of  barbarians.  I  cannot  resist  the  temptation  to 
transcribe  a  few  paragraphs  from  an  elegant  speech  of 
Governor  Livingston  to  the  general  assembly  of  the  state 
of  New  Jersey,  March  the  5th.  "They  have  plundered 
friends  and  foes;  effects,  capable  of  division,  they  have 
divided ;  such  as  were  not,  they  have  destroyed :  they  have 
warred  on  decrepid  old  age,  warred  on  defenceless  youth ; 
they  have  committed  hostilities  against  the  professors  of 
literature  and  the  ministers  of  religion,  against  public  re 
cords  and  private  monuments;  books  of  improvement,  and 
papers  of  curiosity;  and  against  the  arts  and  sciences. 
They  have  butchered  the  wounded,  asking  for  quarter; 
mangled  the  dead,  weltering  in  their  blood;  refused  to  the 
dead  the  rites  of  sepulture;  suffered  prisoners  to  perish 
for  want  of  sustenance;  insulted  the  persons  of  females; 
disfigured  private  dwellings  of  taste  and  elegance,  and,  in 
the  rage  of  impiety  and  barbarism,  profaned  edifices  dedi 
cated  to  Almighty  God." 

Lake  Charnplain  is  now  open,  and  free  from  ice  in  its 
whole  extent,  and  the  hostile  Indians  begin  to  lurk  about 
our  lines,  laying  wait  for  their  prey.  A  party  of  these 
savages  in  the  British  interest,  a  few  days  since,  discovered 
about  thirty  of  our  unarmed  recruits  on  their  way  to  join 
their  corps  at  Fort  George;  they  immediately  made  their 
attack,  killed  and  tomahawked  some,  made  several  pris 
oners,  and  escaped  towards  Canada;  a  few  of  these  men 
fortunately  escaped,  and  several  that  were  wounded  were 
brought  into  our  lines.  Colonel  Whitcomb  with  a  party 
of  continentals  was  ordered  to  pursue  the  Indians;  he  over 
took  part  of  them,  and  killed  several,  but  the  prisoners 
were  carried  off  beyond  his  reach. 


78  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

An  enterprise  of  little  importance  has  lately  been  put 
in  execution  by  a  detachment  of  royalists  from  New  York. 
Their  object  was  to  destroy  some  stores  which  were  de 
posited  at  Peekskill.  General  McDougal,  who  had  the 
command  of  the  post,  with  a  small  number  of  men,  found 
it  prudent  to  retire,  and  the  enemy  accomplished  in  part 
the  object  of  the  expedition.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Willet, 
however,  with  only  sixty  men,  came  on  them  by  surprise, 
when  a  skirmish  ensued,  which  obliged  them  to  retire  with 
great  precipitation  on  board  their  vessels  in  the  North 
Kiver,  after  having  suffered  a  considerable  loss. 
p~  April  1st. — The  term  of  service  of  Colonel  Whitcomb's 
I  regiment  having  expired,  they  have  now  left  the  service, 
and  returned  to  New  England.  Having  received  an  in 
vitation  from  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  the  surgeon-general  in 
this  department,  to  accept  the  office  of  surgeon's-mate  in 
the  general  hospital,  I  have  received  the  said  appointment, 
and  commenced  my  official  duties  accordingly  at  this  place ; 
Dr.  D.  Townsend  being  at  the  same  time  appointed  senior 
surgeon.  We  find  here  about  eighty  soldiers  laboring 
under  various  diseases,  and  eight  or  ten  that  have  been 
cruelly  wounded  by  the  savages  who  have  been  skulking 
in  the  woods  in  the  vicinity.  In  our  retired  situation  here, 
we  are  unacquainted  with  any  military  transactions  in 
other  quarters  till  they  transpire  in  the  public  papers. 

May. — It  is  just  announced  that  the  enemy  have  under 
taken  an  expedition  to  Danbury,  in  Connecticut,  for  the 
purpose  of  destroying  a  magazine  of  stores  at  that  place. 
Governor  Try  on,  a  major-general  of  the  Provincial  troops 
in  New  York,  was  the  commander  of  the  detachment,  con 
sisting  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  men,  and  Brigadier- 
General  Agnew  and  Sir  W.  Erskine  were  commanders 
under  him.  When  the  enemy  had  landed  and  commenced 
their  operations  in  their  usual  manner,  by  burning  and 
destroying  houses  and  other  buildings,  the  country  was 
alarmed,  the  militia  collected,  and  were  commanded  by 
Major-General  Wooster,  Brigadier-Generals  Arnold  and 
Silliman.  A  smart  action  soon  ensued,  and  continued 
about  one  hour,  in  which  our  militia  and  a  small  number 
of  continentals  conducted  with  distinguished  bravery,  but 
being  overpowered  by  a  superior  force,  they  were  obliged 
to  retreat.  The  amount  of  stores  destroyed  by  the  enemy 


:  :, 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1777.  79 

was  very  considerable,  but  the  loss  of  valuable  officers  and 
men  is  infinitely  more  important.  General  Wooster  was 
mortally  wounded,  and  died  soon  after.  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Gould  and  four  or  five  other  officers  were  killed,  and 
about  sixty  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the 
slain  is  Dr.  Atwater,  a  respectable  character,  whose  death 
is  greatly  lamented.  General  Arnold  had  his  horse  shot 
under  him  when  within  ten  yards  of  the  enemy,  and  a 
soldier  was  advancing  with  fixed  bayonet  towards  him, 
when,  with  great  presence  of  mind,  he  drew  his  pistol  from 
his  holsters,  and  instantly  shot  him  through  the  body.  On 
the  side  of  the  royalists  the  loss,  as  stated  by  General 
Howe,  is  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing,  but  by  other  accounts  it  is  much  more  con 
siderable.  Among  their  wounded  is  Brigadier-General 
Agnew  and  two  other  field-officers. 

A  Captain  Roofa  and  his  lieutenant,  two  noted  tories, 
lately  taken  in  arms  as  they  were  marching  towards  the 
enemy,  were  condemned  by  a  court  martial,  and  hanged 
at  Esopus,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  as  a  suitable  reward, 
says  a  writer  in  the  newspaper,  for  their  treasonable  prac 
tices,  they  having  induced  a  number  of  others  to  enlist  in 
the  service  of  the  enemy. 

June. — Congress  have  appointed  Major-General  Schuyler 
to  command  in  the  northern  department,  including  Albany, 
Ticonderoga,  Fort  Stanwix  and  their  dependencies,  and 
Major-General  St.  Clair  has  the  immediate  command  of 
the  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence.  It  is 
also  understood  that  the  British  government  have  appoint 
ed  Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne  conirnander-in-chief  of 
their  army  in  Canada,  consisting,  it  is  said,  of  eight  or  ten 
thousand  men.  According  to  authentic  reports,  the  plan 
of  the  British  government  for  the  present  campaign  is  that 
General  Burgoyne's  army  shall  take  possession  of  Ticon 
deroga,  and  force  his  way  through  the  country  to  Albany; 
to  facilitate  this  event,  Colonel  St.  Leger  is  to  march  with 
a  party  of  British,  Germans,  Canadians  and  Indians  to  the 
Mohawk  river,  and  make  a  diversion  in  that  quarter.  The 
royal  army  at  New  York,  under  command  of  General 
Howe,  is  to  pass  up  the  Hudson  river,  and,  calculating  on 
success  in  all  quarters,  the  three  armies  are  to  form  a  junc 
tion  at  Albany.  Here,  probably,  the  three  commanders 


30  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

are  to  congratulate  each  other  on  their  mighty  achieve 
ments,  and  the  flattering  prospect  of  crushing  the  rebellion. 
This  being  accomplished,  the  communication  between  the 
southern  and  eastern  states  will  be  interrupted,  and  New 
England,  as  they  suppose,  may  become  an  easy  prey. 
Judging  from  the  foregoing  detail,  a  very  active  campaign 
is  to  be  expected,  and  events  of  the  greatest  magnitude  are 
undoubtedly  to  be  unfolded.  The  utmost  exertions  are 
now  making  to  strengthen  our  works  at  Ticorideroga,  and, 
if  possible,  to  render  the  post  invulnerable.  Mount  Inde 
pendence,  '  directly  opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  is  strongly 
fortified  and  well  supplied  with  artillery.  On  the  summit 
of  the  mount,  which  is  table-land,  is  erected  a  strong  fort, 
in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  convenient  square  of  barracks, 
a  part  of  which  are  occupied  for  our  hospital.  The  com 
munication  between  these  two  places  is  maintained  by  a 
floating  bridge;  it  is  supported  on  twenty -two  sunken  piers 
of  very  large  timber,  the  spaces  between  these  are  rilled 
with  separate  floats,  each  about  fifty  feet  long  and  twelve 
wide,  strongly  fastened  together  with  iron  chains  and  rivets. 
A  boom  composed  of  large  pieces  of  timber,  well  secured 
together  by  riveted  bolts,  is  placed  on  the  north  side  of 
the  bridge,  and  by  the  side  of  this  is  placed  a  double  iron 
chain,  the  links  of  which  are  one  and  a  half  inch  square. 
The  construction  of  this  bridge,  boom  and  chain,  of  four 
hundred  yards  in  length,  has  proved  a  most  laborious 
undertaking,  and  the  expense  must  have  been  immense. 
It  is,  however,  supposed  to  be  admirably  adapted  to  the 
double  purpose  of  a  communication,  and  an  impenetrable 
barrier  to  any  vessels  that  might  attempt  to  pass  our  works. 
By  way  of  amusement  I  went  with  three  gentlemen  of  our 
hospital  to  endeavor  to  explore  a  high  mountain  in  this 
vicinity.  With  much  difficulty  we  clambered  up  and 
reached  the  summit.  From  this  commanding  eminence 
we  had  one  of  the  most  singularly  romantic  views  which 
imagination  can  paint.  Northward  we  behold  Lake 
Champlain,  a  prodigious  expanse  of  unruffled  water,  widen 
ing  and  straitening  as  the  banks  and  clifts  project  into  its 
channel.  This  lake  extends  about  one  hundred  miles 
towards  Quebec,  and  is  from  one  to  five  miles  wide.  On 
each  side  is  a  thick  uninhabited  wilderness,  variegated  by 
hills  and  dales;  here  the  majestic  oak,  chestnut  and  pine, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  3^ 

rear  their  lofty  heads;  there  the  diminutive  shrub  forms 
a  thicket  for  the  retreat  of  wild  beasts.  Looking  south 
west  from  our  stand,  we  have  a  view  of  part  of  Lake 
George,  emptying  its  waters  into  Lake  Champlain,  near 
Ticonderoga.  Turning  to  the  east,  the  prodigious  heights 
called  Green  Mountains,  ascending  almost  to  the  clouds, 
are  exhibited  to  view,  with  the  settlements  in  that  tract  of 
territory  called  New  Hampshire  grant.  The  ancient  for 
tress  at  Crown  Point  is  about  twelve  miles  north  of  this 
place;  it  is  by  nature  a  very  strong  position,  but  it  has 
been  abandoned  by  both  armies. 

July  1st. — We  are  now  assailed  by  a  proclamation  of  a 
very  extraordinary  nature  from  General  Burgoyne,  enu 
merating  a  string  of  titles,  which  he  has  doubtless  received 
from  his  royal  master  as  a  reward  for  his  merit.  From 
the  pompous  manner  in  which  he  has  arrayed  his  titles, 
we  are  led  to  suppose  that  he  considers  them  as  more  than 
a  match  for  all  the  military  force  which  we  can  bring 
against  him.  They  stand  thus:  "By  John  Burgoync, 
Esquire,  Lieutenant- General  of  his  Majesty's  forces  in  America, 
Colonel  of  the  Queen's  regiment  of  Light  Dragoons,  Governor 
of  Fort  William,  in  North  Britain,  one  of  the  Commons  of 
Great  Britain  in  Parliament,  and  commanding  an  army  and 
fleet  employed  on  an  expedition  from  Canada,  &c.  <£c." 

This  sanguinary  proclamation  is  to  be  viewed  as  the 
forerunner  of  his  formidable  army,  and  all  the  opposers 
of  his  authority  are  menaced  with  his  avenging  power. 
"I  have,"  says  the  proclamation,  "but  to  give  stretch  to 
the  Indian  forces  under  my  direction,  and  they  amount  to 
thousands,  to  overtake  the  hardened  enemies  of  Great 
Britain  and  America.  I  consider  !hem  the  same  wherever 
they  may  lurk."  The  British  ministry,  not  satisfied  with 
the  disgraceful  expedient  of  hiring  foreign  mercenaries, 
resort  also  to  the  savages  of  the  wilderness  for  aid  in  the 
glorious  cause  of  tyranny  and  of  spreading  the  horrors  of 
war  by  fire  and  sword  throughout  our  country.  The  mili 
tia  of  New  England  are  daily  coming  in  to  increase  our 
strength;  the  number  of  our  troops,  and  our  ability  to  de 
fend  the  works  against  the  approaching  enemy,  are  con 
siderations  which  belong  to  our  commanding  officers;  in 
their  breasts  let  the  important  secret  remain,  and  in  their 
superior  judgment  our  confidence  must  be  reposed.  One 


32  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

fact,  however,  is  notorious,  that  when  the  troops  are  directed 
to  man  the  lines,  there  is  not  a  suilicient  number  to  occupy 
their  whole  extent.  It  appears,  nevertheless,  so  far  as  I 
can  learn,  to  be  the  prevalent  opinion,  that  we  shall  be 
able  to  repel  the  meditated  attack,  and  defeat  the  views  of 
the  royal  commander;  both  officers  and  men  are  in  high 
spirits  and  prepared  for  the  contest. 

July  2d. — The  British  army  is  now  approaching;  some 
of  their  savage  allies  have  been  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  our 
out  works,  which,  with  the  block-house  beyond  the  old 
French  lines,  has  this  day  been  abandoned.  On  the  3d 
and  4th,  the  enemy  are  making  their  approaches  and  gain 
ing  as  is  supposed  some  advantages.  They  have  taken 
possession  of  Mount  Hope,  our  batteries  are  now  opened, 
and  a  cannonading  has  commenced.  General  St.  Clair 
endeavors  to  animate  the  troops,  and  orders  every  man  to 
repair  to  the  alarm-posts  at  morning  and  evening  roll-call, 
and  to  be  particularly  alert  and  vigilant.  There  seems  to 
be  a  diversity  of  opinion  whether  General  Burgoyne  in 
tends  to  besiege  our  garrison,  or  to  attempt  to  possess 
himself  of  it  by  an  assault  on  our  lines. 

5th. — It  is  with  astonishment  that  we  find  the  enemy 
have  taken  -  possession  of  an  eminence  called  Sugar-loaf 
Hill,  or  Mount  Defiance,  which,  from  its  height  and  prox 
imity,  completely  overlooks  and  commands  all  our  works 
at  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence.  This  mount  it 
is  said  ought  long  since  to  have  been  fortified  by  our  army, 
but  its  extreme  difficulty  of  access,  and  the  want  of  a  suf 
ficient  number  of  men,  are  the  reasons  assigned  for  its 
being  neglected.  The  situation  of  our  garrison  is  viewed 
as  critical  and  alarming;  a  few  days,  it  is  expected,  will 
decide  our  fate.  We  have  reason  to  apprehend  the  most 
fatal  effects  from  their  battery  on  Sugar-loaf  Hill. 

l±th. — By  reason  of  an  extraordinary  and  unexpected 
event,  the  course  of  my  Journal  has  been  interrupted  for 
several  days.  At  about  twelve  o'clock,  in  the  night  of  the 
5th  instant,  I  was  urgently  called  from  sleep,  and  informed 
that  our  army  was  in  motion,  and  was  instantly  to  abandon 
Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence.  I  could  scarcely 
believe  that  my  informant  was  in  earnest,  but  the  confusion 
and  bustle  soon  convinced  me  that  it  was  really  true,  and 
that  the  short  time  allowed  demanded  my  utmost  industry. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  33 

It  was  enjoined  on  me  immediately  to  collect  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  as  much  of  the  hospital  stores  as  possible, 
and  assist  in  embarking  them  on  board  the  batteaux  and 
boats  at  the  shore.  Having  with  all  possible  despatch 
completed  our  embarkation,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  of  the  6th,  we  commenced  our  voyage  up  the  South 
bay  to  Skeensboro',  about  thirty  miles.  Our  fleet  con 
sisted  of  five  armed  gallies  and  two  hundred  batteaux  and 
boats  deeply  laden  with  cannon,  tents,  provisions,  invalids 
and  women.  We  were  accompanied  by  a  guard  of  six 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  Colonel  Long,  of  New 
Hampshire.  The  night  was  moon-light  and  pleasant,  the 
sun  burst  forth  in  the  morning  with  uncommon  lustre,  the 
day  was  fine,  the  water's  surface  serene  and  unruffled. 
The  shore  on  each  side  exhibited  a  variegated  view  of 
huge  rocks,  caverns  and  clefts,  and  the  whole  was  bounded 
by  a  thick  impenetrable  wilderness.  My  pen  would  fail 
in  the  attempt  to  describe  a  scene  so  enchanting! y  sublime. 
The  occasion  was  peculiarly  interesting,  and  we  could  but 
look  back  with  regret,  and  forward  with  apprehension. 
We  availed  ourselves,  however,  of  the  means  of  enlivening 
our  spirits.  The  drum  and  fife  afforded  us  a  favorite 
music;  among  the  hospital  stores  we  found  many  dozen 
bottles  of  choice  wine,  and,  breaking  off  their  necks,  we 
cheered  our  hearts  with  the  nectareous  contents.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  our  destined  port  at 
Skeensboro',  being  the  head  of  navigation  for  our  gal- 
lies.  Here  we  were  unsuspicious  of  danger;  but,  behold! 
Burgoyne  himself  was  at  our  heels.  In  less  than  two 
hours  we  were  struck  with  surprise  and  consternation  by 
a  discharge  of  cannon  from  the  enemy's  fleet,  on  our  gal- 
lies  and  batteaux  lying  at  the  wharf.  By  uncommon 
efforts  and  industry  they  had  broken  through  the  bridge, 
boom  and  chain,  which  cost  our  people  such  immense  labor, 
and  had  almost  overtaken  us  on  the  lake,  and  horridly 
disastrous  indeed  would  have  been  our  fate.  It  was  not 
long  before  it  was  perceived  that  a  number  of  their  troops 
and  savages  had  landed,  and  were  rapidly  advancing 
towards  our  little  party.  The  officers  of  our  guard  now 
attempted  to  rally  the  men  and  form  them  in  battle  array, 
but  this  was  found  impossible;  every  effort  proved  una 
vailing,  and  in  the  utmost  panic  they  were  seen  to  fly  in 


84:  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

every  direction  for  personal  safety.  In  this  desperate 
condition,  I  perceived  our  officers  scampering  for  their 
baggage;  I  ran  to  the  batteau,  seized  my  chest,  carried  it 
a  short  distance,  took  from  it  a  few  articles,  and  instantly 
followed  in  the  train  of  our  retreating  party.  We  took 
the  route  to  Fort  Anne,  through  a  narrow  defile  in  the 
woods,  and  were  so  closely  pressed  by  the  pursuing  enemy, 
that  we  frequently  heard  calls  from  the  rear  to  "march  on, 
the  Indians  are  at  our  heels."  Having  marched  all  night 
we  reached  Fort  Anne  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  where 
we  found  provisions  for  our  refreshment.  A  small  rivulet 
called  Wood  Creek  is  navigable  for  boats  from  Skeensboro' 
to  Fort  Anne,  by  which  means  some  of  our  invalids  and 
baggage  made  their  escape;  but  all  our  cannon,  provisions, 
and  the  bulk  of  our  baggage,  with  several  invalids,  fell 
into  the  enemy's  hands. 

On  the  7th  instant,  we  received  a  small  reinforcement 
from  Fort  Edward,  by  order  of  Major-General  Schuyler, 
and  on  discovering  that  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  under 
command  of  Colonel  Hill  had  arrived  in  our  vicinity,  a 
party  from  our  fort  was  ordered  to  attack  them  in  their 
covert  in  the  woods.  The  two  parties  were  soon  engaged 
in  a  smart  skirmish,  which  continued  for  several  hours, 
and  resulted  greatly  to  our  honor  and  advantage;  the 
enemy,  being  almost  surrounded,  were  on  the  point  of 
surrendering,  when  our  ammunition  being  expended,  and 
a  party  of  Indians  arriving  and  setting  up  the  war-whoop, 
this  being  followed  by  three  cheers  from  their  friends  the 
English,  the  Americans  were  induced  to  give  way  and 
retreat.  One  surgeon  with  a  wounded  captain  and  twelve 
or  fifteen  privates,  were  taken  and  brought  into  our  fort. 
The  surgeon  informed  me  that  he  was  in  possession  of 
books,  &e.  taken  from  my  chest  at  Skeensboro',  and,  sin 
gular  to  relate,  some  of  the  British  prisoners  obtained  in 
the  same  manner,  and  had  in  their  pockeis,  a  number,  of 
private  letters  which  I  had  received  from,  a  friend  in  Mas 
sachusetts,  and  which  were  now  returned  to  me.  Fort 
Anne  being  a  small  picket  fort  of  no  importance,  orders 
were  given  to  set  it  on  fire,  and  on  the  8th  we  departed 
for  Fort  Edward  situated  about  thirty  miles  southward, 
on  the  banks  of  Hudson  river.  General  St.  Clair,  with 
his  main  army  from  Ticonderoga,  took  a  circuitous  route 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1777.  Q5 

through  the  woods  to  Hubbardtown  and  Charlestown,  in 
the  New  Hampshire  grants,  and  being  pursued  by  a  strong 
detachment  from  Burgoyne's  army,  his  rear  guard,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Francis,  was  overtaken,  and  on  the 
7th  instant,  a  very  close  and  severe  engagement  took  place, 
in  which  bloody  conflict,  the  brave  Colonel  Francis  fell 
with  other  valuable  officers,  while  fighting  with  distin 
guished  gallantry.  The  Americans  made  an  honorable 
defence,  and  finally  a  secure  retreat.  We  lost  in  this  action 
about  three  hundred,  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 
The  enemy,  according  to  estimation,  about  two  hundred. 
On  the  12th,  General  St.  Clair  arrived  here  with  the  re 
mains  of  his  army,  greatly  distressed  and  worn  down  by 
fatigue.  General  Schuyler  is  commander  at  this  post,  he 
has  a  small  army  of  continentals  and  militia,  and  is  making 
every  possible  exertion,  by  taking  up  bridges,  throwing 
obstructions  in  the  roads  and  passes,  by  fallen  trees,  &c.  to 
impede  the  march  of  Burgoyne's  army  towards  Albany. 

The  abandonment  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independ 
ence  has  occasioned  the  greatest  surprise  and  alarm.  No 
event  could  be  more  unexpected  nor  more  severely  feljt 
throughout  our  army  and  country.  This  disaster  has 
given  to  our  cause  a  dark  and  gloomy  aspect,  but  our 
affairs  are  not  desperate,  and  our  exertions  ought  to  be  in 
proportion  to  our  misfortunes  and  our  exigencies.  The 
conduct  of  General  St.  Clair  on  this  occasion  has  rendered 
him  very  unpopular,  and  subjected  him  to  general  censure 
arid  reproach;  there  are  some,  indeed,  who  even  accuse 
him  of  treachery;  but  time  and  calm  investigation  must 
decide  whether  he  can  vindicate  himself  as  a  judicious  and 
prudent  commander.  There  is  much  reason  to  suppose 
that  neither  the  strength  of  Burgoyne's  army,  nor  the 
weakness  of  our  garrison  were  properly  considered  or 
generally  understood.  It  must  be  universally  conceded, 
that  when  the  enemy  had  effected  their  great  object  by 
hoisting  cannon  from  tree  to  tree,  till  they  reached  the 
summit  of  Sugar-loaf  Hill,  the  situation  of  our  garrison 
had  become  perilous  in  the  extreme.  General  Schuyler 
is  not  altogether  free  from  public  reprehension,  alleging 
that  he  ought  in  duty  to  have  been  present  at  Ticonderoga 
during  the  critical  period.  It  is  predicted  by  some  of  our 
well-informed  and  respectable  characters,  that  this  event, 


86  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

apparently  so  calamitous,  will  ultimately  prove  advantage 
ous,  by  drawing  the  British  army  into  the  heart  of  our 
country,  and  thereby  place  them  more  immediately  within 
our  power. 

It  may  be  deemed  ludicrous  that  I  should  record  a 
rumor  so  extravagantly  ridiculous  as  the  following,  but  it 
has  received  too  much  credence  to  be  altogether  omitted. 
It  has  been  industriously  reported,  that  Generals  Schuyler 
and  St.  Glair  acted  the  part  of  traitors  to  their  country, 
and  that  they  were  paid  for  their  treason  by  the  enemy  in 
silver  balls  t  shot  from  Burgoyne's  guns  into  our  camp,  arid 
that  they  were  collected  by  order  of  General  St.  Glair,  and 
divided  between  him  and  General  Schuyler. 

2oth. — The  sick  soldiers  under  my  care  at  this  place  have 
been  accommodated  in  barracks  and  tents.  I  have  now 
received  orders  to  accompany  them  to  the  hospital  at  Al 
bany,  about  fifty -five  rniles;  boats  being  provided,  we 
embarked  about  forty  sick  and  invalids,  and  proceeded 
down  the  North  river,  and  arrived  on  the  third  day  at  the 
place  of  our  destination. 

August  3d. — The  pleasing  information  is  received  here 
that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Barton,  of  the  Rhode  Island  mili 
tia,  planned  a  bold  exploit  for  the  purpose  of  surprising 
and  taking  Major-General  Prescott,  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  royal  army  at  Newport.  Taking  with  him,  in  the 
night,  about  forty  men  in  two  boats  with  oars  muffled,  he 
had  the  address  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  the  ships  of  war 
and  guard  boats,  and  having  arrived  undiscovered  at  the 
quarters  of  General  Prescott,  they  were  taken  for  the  sen 
tinels,  and  the  general  was  not  alarmed  till  his  captors 
were  at  the  door  of  his  lodging  chamber,  which  was  fast 
closed.  A  negro  man,  named  Prince,  instantly  thrust  his 
beetle  head  through  the  pannel-door,  and  seized  his  victim 
while  in  bed.  The  general's  aid-de-camp  leaped  from  a 
window  undressed,  and  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  taken, 
and  with  the  general  brought  off  in  safety.  In  repassing 
the  water  guards,  General  Prescott  said  to  Colonel  Barton. 
"Sir,  I  did  not  think  it  possible  you  could  escape  the  vigil 
ance  of  the  water  guards."  This  is  the  second  time  that 
General  Prescott  has  been  a  prisoner  in  our  hands  within 
two  years.  This  adventure  is  extremely  honorable  to  the 
enterprising  spirit  of  Colonel  Barton,  and  is  considered  as 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  37 

ample  retaliation  for  the  capture  of  General  Lee  by  Colo 
nel  Harcourt.  The  event  occasions  great  joy  and  exulta 
tion,  as  it  puts  in  our  possession  an  officer  of  equal  rank 
with  General  Lee,  by  which  means  an  exchange  may  be 
obtained.  Congress  resolved  that  an  elegant  sword  should 
be  presented  to  Colonel  Barton  for  his  brave  exploit.  It 
has  been  ascertained  that  General  Howe  has  relaxed  in 
his  rigid  treatment  of  General  Lee,  and  conducted  towards 
him  in  a  manner  suitable  to  his  rank.  The  Hessian  officers, 
on  whom  retaliation  had  been  inflicted,  are  also  restored 
to  their  former  condition  as  prisoners  of  war. 

It  appears  by  the  papers,  that  Congress  resolved,  on  the 
14th  of  June  last,  that  the  flag  of  the  thirteen  United 
States  be  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and  white ;  that  the 
union  be  thirteen  stars,  white  in  a  blue  field,  representing 
a  new  constellation. 

His  Excellency  General  Washington,  at  his  quarters  in 
the  Jerseys,  has  published  a  manifesto  in  answer  to  General 
Burgoyne's  proclamation,  from  which  I  extract  a  few  par 
agraphs.  He  observes,  "  The  associated  armies  in  America 
act  from  the  noblest  motives,  and  for  the  purest  purposes: 
their  common  object  is  liberty.  The  same  principles  act 
uated  the  arms  of  Rome  in  the  days  of  her  glory,  and  the 
same  object  was  the  reward  of  Roman  valor.  When  these 
sacred  ideas  are  profaned,  when  the  abominable  mixture 
of  mercenary,  foreign  and  savage  forces  dare  to  mention 
the  love  of  country,  and  the  general  privileges  of  mankind" 
referring  to  Burgoyne's  proclamation,  "the  freemen  of 
America  protest  against  such  abuse  of  language  and  pros 
titution  of  sentiment."  In  another  paragraph,  "We  beg 
leave  to  observe,  if  the  power  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
fleets  and  armies  have  been  driven  from  Boston,  repulsed 
from  Charleston,  cut  off  at  Trenton,  expelled  the  Jerseys, 
and  be  now,  after  almost  three  campaigns,  commencing  its 
operation,  that  this  is  a  power  we  do  not  dread.';  In  the 
close,  "Harassed  as  we  are  by  unrelenting  persecution, 
obliged  by  every  tie  to  repel  violence  by  force,  urged  by 
self-preservation  to  exert  the  strength  which  Providence 
has  given  us  to  defend  our  natural  rights  against  the  ag 
gressor;  we  appeal  to  the  hearts  of  all  mankind  for  the 
justice  of  our  cause;  its  event  we  submit  to  Him  who 
speaks  the  fate  of  nations,  in  humble  confidence  that .  as 


83  MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1777. 

his  omniscient  eye  taketh  note  even  of  the  sparrow  that 
falleth  to  the  ground,  so  He  will  not  withdraw  his  counte 
nance  from  a  people  who  humbly  array  themselves  under 
his  banner  in  defence  of  the  noblest  principles  with  which 
he  hath  adorned  humanity."  It  is  a  matter  of  pride  to 
our  country  that  our  comrnander-iii-chief  has  exhibited  a 
production  so  far  surpassing  in  dignity  of  sentiment  and 
justness  of  observation  the  pompous  proclamation  to  which 
this  is  a  rejoinder.  It  is  no  less  satisfactory  to  reflect,  that 
the  measure  referred  to  has  not  been  productive  of  those 
glorious  advantages  to  the  royal  cause,  or  the  dire  conse 
quences  as  respects  our  own,  which  the  sanguine  spirit  of 
its  author  had  contemplated.  .Though  he  threatened  us 
with  all  the  outrages  of  war,  arrayed  in  terrific  forms,  aided 
by  savages  eager  to  be  let  loose  on  their  prey,  yet  the 
proclamation  has  been  viewed  rather  as  a  curious  model  of 
an  ostentatious  display  of  self-importance  than  a  formida 
ble  weapon  calculated  to  awe  a  free  people  into  submission. 
8th. — We  have  just  been  apprised,  by  express  from  the 
Mohawk  country,  that  Colonel  St.  Leger  and  Sir  John 
Johnson,  with  a  body  of  Britons,  Canadians,  tories  and 
Indians,  had  invested  Fort  Schuyler,  one  hundred  and  ten 
miles  from  Albany;  that  General  Herkimer,  with  about 
eight  hundred  militia,  was  advancing  to  disperse  this 
motley  collection,  and  to  relieve  the  garrison;  but  unfor 
tunately  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade  and  suffered  a  consid 
erable  loss.  Being  himself  wounded  in  both  legs,  he  was 
seen  sitting  on  a  stump,  and  courageously  encouraging  his 
men,  by  which  they  maintained  their  ground  and  did  great 
execution  among  the  enemy.  Several  of  the  Indian  chiefs 
were  slain  by  the  first  fire,  which  so  disheartened  the  re 
mainder,  that  they  were  thrown  into  the  greatest  confusion, 
and  turning  on  the  tories  and  other  white  people,  a  warm, 
contention  ensued  between  them,  and  many  of  the  whites 
were  killed.  Colonel  Gansevort,  the  commander  of  the 
fort,  sent  out  Lieutenant-Colonel  Willet  with  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  who  bravely  routed  the  Indians  and  tories, 
destroyed  their  provisions  and  took  their  kettles,  blankets, 
muskets,  tomahawks,  deer-skins,  &c.  with  five  colors,  and 
returned  to  the  fort.  The  brave  General  Herkimer  soon 
died  of  his  wounds,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  his 
militia-men,  having  fought  like  lions,  were  killed,  besides 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  IV 77.  39 

a  great  number  wounded.  St.  Leger's  victory  over  our 
militia  was  purchased  at  a  dear  price,  more  than  seventy 
of  his  Indians  were  slain,  and  among  them  a  large  pro 
portion  of  their  most  distinguished  and  favorite  warriors, 
and  the  survivors  were  exceedingly  dissatisfied.  The 
object  of  the  expedition  was  far  from  being  accomplished ; 
the  commander  did  not,  however,  despair  of  getting  pos 
session  of  the  fort;  for  this  purpose  he  sent  in  a  flag  de 
manding  a  surrender.  He  greatly  magnified  his  own 
strength,  asserted  that  Burgoyne  was  at  Albany;  and 
threatened  that  on  refusal  his  Indians  would  destroy  all 
the  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity,  and  so  soon  as  they  could 
enter  the  fort  every  man  would  be  sacrificed.  Colonel 
Gansevort  nobly  replied  in  the  negative,  being  determined 
to  defend  the  fort  at  every  hazard.  Aware,  however,  of 
his  perilous  situation,  he  found  means  of  sending  to  Gen 
eral  Schuyler  at  Still  water  for  assistance.  General  Arnold 
was  now  despatched  with  a  brigade  of  troops  to  attack  the 
besiegers;  but  finding  their  force  greatly  superior  to  his 
own,  he  sent  back  for  a  reinforcement  of  one  thousand 
light  troops. 

An  object  which  cannot  be  accomplished  by  force  is 
often  obtained  by  means  of  stratagem.  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  John  Brooks,  an  intelligent  officer  from  Massachusetts, 
being  in  advance  with  a  small  detachment,  fortunately 
found  one  Major  Butler,  a  noted  officer  among  the  Indians, 
endeavoring  to  influence  the  inhabitants  in  their  favor, 
and  he  was  immediately  secured.  A  man  also  by  the 
name  of  Cuyler,  who  was  proprietor  of  a  handsome  estate 
in  the  vicinity,  was  taken  up  as  a  spy.  Colonel  Brooks 
proposed  that  he  should  be  employed  as  a  deceptive  mes 
senger  to  spread  the  alarm  and  induce  the  enemy  to  retreat. 
General  Arnold  soon  after  arrived,  and  approved  the 
scheme  of  Colonel  Brooks;  it  was  accordingly  agreed  that 
Cuyler  should  be  liberated  and  his  estate  secured  to  him 
on  the  condition  that  he  would  return  to  the  enemy  and 
make  such  exaggerated  report  of  General  Arnold's  force 
as  to  alarm  and  put  them  to  flight.  Several  friendly  In 
dians  being  present,  one  of  their  head  men  advised  that 
Cuyler's  coat  should  be  shot  through  in  two  or  three  places 
to  add  credibility  to  his  story.  Matters  being  thus  adj  usted, 
the  impostor  proceeded  directly  to  the  Indian  camp,  where 


90  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1T77. 

he  was  well  known,  and  informed  their  warriors  that 
Major  Butler  was  taken,  and  that  himself  narrowly  escaped, 
several  shot  having  passed  through  his  coat,  and  that 
General  Arnold  with  a  vast  force  was  advancing  rapidly 
toward  them.  In  aid  of  the  project,  a  friendly  Indian  fol 
lowed,  and  arrived  about  an  hour  after  with  a  confirmation 
of  Cuyler's  report.  This  stratagem  was  successful:  the 
Indians  instantly  determined  to  quit  their  ground,  -and 
make  their  escape,  nor  was  it  in  the  power  of  St.  Leger 
and  Sir  John,  with  all  their  art  of  persuasion,  to  prevent 
it.  When  St.  Leger  remonstrated  with  them,  the  reply 
of  the  chiefs  was,  "When  we  marched  down,  you  told  us 
there  would  be  no  fighting  for  us  Indians;  we  might  go 
down  and  smoke  our  pipes;  but  now  a  number  of  our 
warriors  have  been  killed,  and  you  mean  to  sacrifice  us." 
The  consequence  was,  that  St.  Leger,  finding  himself  de 
serted  by  his  Indians,  to  the  number  of  seven  or  eight 
hundred,  deemed  his  situation  so  hazardous  that  he  de 
camped  in  the  greatest  hurry  and  confusion,  leaving  his 
tents  with  most  of  his  artillery  and  stores  in  the  field. 
General  Arnold  with  his  detachment  was  now  at  liberty 
to  return  to  the  main  army  at  Stillwater;  and  thus  have 
we  clipped  the  right  wing  "of  General  Burgoyne.  In  the 
evening,  while  on  their  retreat,  St.  Leger  and  Sir  John 
got  into  a  warm  altercation,  criminating  each  other  for 
the  ill  success  of  the  expedition.  Two  sachems,  observing 
this,  resolved  to  have  a  laugh  at  their  expense.  In  their 
front  was  a  bog  of  clay  and  mud ;  they  directed  a  young 
warrior  to  loiter  in  the  rear,  and  then,  of  a  sudden,  run  as 
if  alarmed,  calling  out,  They  are  coming,  they  are  coming! 
On  hearing  this,  the  two  commanders  in  a  fright  took  to 
their  heels,  rushing  into  the  bog,  frequently  falling  and 
sticking  in  the  mud,  and  the  men  threw  away  their  packs 
and  hurried  off.  This  and  other  jokes  were  several  times 
repeated  during  the  night  for  many  miles. 

30^. — The  city  of  Albany  is  situated  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Hudson,  or  North  river,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles  north  from  New  York,  and  the  river  admits  of  sloop 
navigation  between  these  two  cities.  It  consists  of  about 
three  hundred  houses,  chiefly  in  the  gothic  style,  the  gable 
ends  to  the  street.  There  is  an  ancient  Dutch  church  of 
stone,  a  Congregational  church,  and  a  decent  edifice  called 


MAJOR    (JKXEUAL    PHILIP    SO 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  gj 

City  Hall,  which  accommodates  occasionally  their  general 
assembly  and  courts  of  justice.  The  hospital  was  erected 
during  the  last  French  war;  it  is  situated  on  an  eminence 
overlooking  the  city.  It  is  two  stories  high,  having  a 
wing  at  each  end  and  a  piazza  in  front  above  and  below. 
It  contains  forty  wards,  capable  of  accommodating  five 
hundred  patients,  besides  the  rooms  appropriated  to  the 
use  of  surgeons  and  other  officers,  stores,  &c. 

Our  army  under  General  Schuyler  have  left  their  unim 
portant  station  at  Fort  Edward,  and  having  made  a  stand 
for  a  few  days  at  Saratoga,  they  fell  back  to  Still  water, 
twenty-five  miles  above  Albany,  where  they  have  taken 
their  station,  and  are  daily  receiving  reinforcements  of 
militia  and  some  continental  troops.  On  the  retreat  of 
our  army  from  Fort  Edward,  Major  Hull  commanded  the 
rear  guard,  and  being  two  miles  in  the  rear,  was  attacked 
by  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  and  after  a  severe  contest, 
in  which  he  lost  thirty  or  forty  of  his  men,  he  was  com 
pelled  to  retreat.  He  received  the  thanks  of  General 
Schuyler  for  his  brave  and  judicious  conduct.  General 
Burgoyne,  we  learn,  is  extremely  embarrassed,  and  his 
march  greatly  impeded  by  the  obstructions  in  the  roads 
effected  by  order  of  Gen.  Schuyler;  he  has  at  length,  how 
ever,  surmounted  numerous  difficulties,  and  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Saratoga.  Finding  himself  in  want  of  provi 
sions,  horses  to  mount  his  cavalry,  and  teams  to  transport 
his  stores  and  baggage,  he  resorted  to  one  of  the  most  chi 
merical  and  romantic  projects  that  could  enter  the  imagi 
nation  of  man.  Being  informed  that  a  large  quantity  of 
stores,  corn,  cattle,  &c.,  were  deposited  at  Bennington,  in  the 
New  Hampshire  grants,  he  planned  an  expedition  for  the 
purpose  of  possessing  himself  of  this  treasure.  Presuming, 
probably,  that  his  late  success  and  his  manifesto  had  pro 
duced  such  wonderful  effects,  that  no  more  opposition  would 
be  made  to  his  progress  in  the  country,  he  despatched  Col. 
Baum,  a  German  officer,  with  five  hundred  Hessians  and 
tories  and  one  hundred  Indians,  with  two  field-pieces. 
The  colonel  was  furnished  with  the  following  curious 
instructions,  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  General  Stark: 

"  To  proceed  through  the  New  Hampshire  grants,  cross  the  mountains, 
scour  the  country,  with  Peter's  corps  (tories)  and  the  Indians,  from  Rock- 
ingham  to  Otter  creek,  to  get  horses,  carriages,  and  cattle,  and  mount 


92  MILTTAEY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

ReideseFs  regiment  of  dragoons,  to  go  down  Connecticut  river  as  far  as 
Bratlleborough,  and  return  by  the  great  road  to  Albany,  there  to  meet  Gen 
eral  Bnrgoyne,  to  endeavor  to  make  the  country  believe  it  iras  the  advanced 
bodij  of  the  General s  army  who  was  to  cross  Connecticut  river  and  proceed 
to  Boston;  and  that  at  Springfield  they  were  to  be  joined  by  the  troops  from 
Rhode  Island.  All  officers,  civil  and  military,  acting  under  the  Congress, 
were  to  be  made  prisoners.  To  tax  the  towns  where  they  halted,  with  such 
articles  as  they  wanted,  and  take  hostages  for  the  performance,  <f*c.  You 
are  to  bring  all  horses  fit  to  mount,  the  dragoons  or  to  serve  as  battalion  horses 
for  the  troops,  with  as  many  saddles  and  bridles  as  cart  be  found.  The 
number  of  horses  requisite  besides  those  for  the  dragoons  ought  to  be  thirteen 
hundred,  if  you  can  bring  more,  so  much  the  better.  The  horses  must  be 
tied  in  strings  of  ten  each,  in  order  that  one  man  may  lead  ten  horses." 

This  redoubtable  commander  surely  must  be  one  of  the 
happiest  men  of  the  age,  to  imagine  that  such  prodigious 
achievements  were  at  his  command;  that  such  invaluable 
resources  were  within  his  grasp.  But,  alas!  the  wisest  of 
men  are  liable  to  disappointment  in  their  sanguine  calcu 
lations,  and  to  have  their  favorite  projects  frustrated  by 
the  casualties  of  war.  This  is  remarkably  verified  in  the 
present  instance.  Preceded  by  the  manifesto,  and  having 
his  commission  in  his  pocket,  Colonel  Baum  marched,  on 
the  14th  of  August,  at  the  head  of  his  command,  to  execute 
the  orders  of  his  general ;  he  proceeded  about  twelve  or 
thirteen  miles,  where  he  halted,  and  secured  himself  by 
intrenchrnents.  It  was  a  providental  circumstance  that 
General  Stark  was  at  or  near  Bennington,  with  about  eight 
hundred  New  England  militia,  part  of  whom  being  from  the 
New  Hampshire  grants,  are  called  Green  Mountain  Boys. 
He  advanced  towards  the  enemy  to  reconnoitre  their  posi 
tion,  and  some  skirmishing  ensued,  in  which  thirty  of  them 
with  two  Indian  chiefs  were  killed  and  wounded,  with  little 
loss  on  our  side.  Colonel  Baum,  alarmed  at  his  situation, 
despatched  a  messenger  to  Burgoyne  for  a  reinforcement. 
The  loth  being  a  very  rainy  day,  there  was  only  some 
skirmishing  in  small  parties.  On  the  16th,  General  Stark, 
assisted  by  Colonel  Warner,  matured  his  arrangements 
for  battle;  he  divided  his  troops  into  three  divisions,  and 
ordered  Colonel  Nichols,  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
to  gain  the  rear  of  the  left  wing,  of  the  enemy,  and  Colo 
nel  Hendrick  the  rear  of  their  right  wing,  with  three 
hundred  men,  while  he  attacked  their  front.  The  Indians, 
alarmed,  at  the  appearance  of  being  surrounded,  en 
deavored  to  make  their  escape  in  a  single  file  between  the 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1777.  93 

two  parties,  with  their  horrid  yells  and  jingling  of  cow 
bells.  The  flanking  parties  approaching  each  other  in  their 
rear,  and  General  Stark  making  a  bold  and  furious  onset 
in  front,  a  general  and  close  conflict  ensued,  and  continued 
with  more  or  less  severity  for  about  two  hours.  Though 
Colonel  Baum  had  nearly  twice  their  numbers,  and  was 
defended  by  breastworks,  the  force  opposed  to  them  proved 
irresistible,  forcing  their  breastworks  at  the  muzzles  of 
their  guns,  and  obliging  them  to  ground  their  arms  and 
surrender  at  discretion,  so  that  the  victory  on  our  part 
was  complete.  We  took  two  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  and 
a  number  of  prisoners,  with  baggage,  &c.  This  was  hardly 
accomplished,  when  Colonel  Breyman,  with  one  thousand 
German  troops,  arrived  with  two  field-pieces,  to  reinforce 
Colonel  Baum,  who  had  just  been  defeated.  General 
Stark's  troops  were  now  scattered,  some  attending  the 
wounded,  some  guarding  the  prisoners,  and  still  more  in 
pursuit  of  plunder;  and  all  exhausted  by  extreme  hunger 
and  fatigue.  At  this  critical  moment,  Colonel  Warner's 
regiment  arrived,  and  the  other  troops  being  rallied,  the 
whole  were  ordered  to  advance.  A  field-piece  had  been 
taken  from  Baum  in  the  forenoon,  and  Stark  ordered  it 
to  be  drawn  to  the  scene  of  action,  but  his  men  having 
never  seen  a  cannon,  knew  not  how  to  load  it;  the  general 
dismounted,  and  taught  them  by  loading  it  himself.  An 
action  soon  commenced,  and  proved  warm  and  desperate, 
in  which  both  sides  displayed  the  most  daring  bravery, 
till  night  approached,  when  the  enemy  yielded  a  second 
time  in  one  day  to  their  Yankee  conquerors.  The  Ger 
man  troops  being  totally  routed,  availed  themselves  of  the 
darkness  of  night  to  effect  their  retreat.  The  whole  num 
ber  of  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  was  nine  hundred 
and  thirty-four,  including  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
tories;  of  this  number,  six  hundred  and  fifty-four  are 
prisoners.  Colonel  Baum  received  a  mortal  wound,  of 
which  he  soon  after  died.  Besides  the  above,  one  thous 
and  stand  of  arms,  four  brass  field-pieces,  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dragoon  swords,  eight  loads  of  baggage,  and 
twenty  horses,  fell  into  our  hands.  The  loss  on  our  side 
is  not  more  than  one  hundred  in  the  whole.  The  officers 
and  men  engaged  in  this  splendid  enterprise  merit  all  the 
praise  which  a  grateful  country  can  bestow ;  they  fought 


94:  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

disciplined  troops  completely  accoutred,  while  they  wielded 
their  ordinary  firelocks  with  scarce  a  bayonet,  and  at  first 
without  cannon.  The  consequences  must  be  most  auspi 
cious  as  respects  our  affairs  in  the  northern  department. 
Burgoyne  must  feel  the  clipping  of  another  wing,  and  it 
must  diminish  his  confidence  in  his  successful  career.  The 
event  will  also  be  productive  of  the  happiest  effects  on  the 
spirits  of  our  militia,  by  increasing  their  confidence  in  their 
own  prowess.  The  following  anecdote  deserves  to  be 
noticed  for  the  honor  of  the  person  who  is  the  subject  of 
it,  though  his  name  has  not  been  ascertained.  A  venerable 
old  man  had  five  sons  in  the  field  of  battle  near  Benning- 
ton,  and  being  told  that  he  had  been  unfortunate  in  one 
of  his  sons,  replied,  "What!  has  he  misbehaved?  did  he 
desert  his  post,  or  shrink  from  the  charge?"  "No,  sir," 
says  the  informant,  "worse  than  that:  he  is  among  the 
slain;  he  fell  contending  mightily  in  the  cause."  "Then 
I  am  satisfied,"  replied  the  good  old  man;  "bring  him  in, 
and  lay  him  before  me,  that  I  may  behold  and  survey  the 
darling  of  my  soul."  On  which  the  corpse  was  brought 
in  and  laid  before  him.  He  then  called  for  a  bowl  of 
water  and  a  napkin,  and  with  his  own  hands  washed  the 
gore  and  dirt  from  his  son's  corpse,  and  wiped  his  gaping 
wounds,  with  a  complacency,  as  he  himself  expressed  it, 
which  before  he  had  never  felt  or  experienced. 

Major-General  Horatio  Gates  has  superseded  General 
Schuyler  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  northern  depart 
ment,  and  has  passed  through  this  city  on  his  way  to 
Stillwater.  This  appointment  will  be  very  satisfactory  to 
our  army,  as  General  Gates  has  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  New  England  troops. 

September  2d. — General  Gates  has  issued  a  proclamation 
to  counteract  any  influence  which  Burgoyne's  sanguinary- 
manifesto  might  have  produced,  interdicting  all  communi 
cation  with  the  royal  army,  and  endeavoring  to  calm  the 
fears  of  the  inhabitants,  by  promising  them  all  the  pro 
tection  in  his  power.  Burgoyne's  manifesto,  however, 
denouncing  fire  and  sword,  instead  of  alarming  into  sub 
mission,  excites  universal  indignation  and  contempt;  in 
stead  of  conciliating,  and  increasing  the  number  of  his 
friends,  serves  only  to  exasperate  and  augment  our  means 
of  resistance  and  opposition  to  his  views.  It  was  not  long 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1777.  95 

indeed  before  some  innocent  persons  were  made  victims 
of  savage  barbarity,  by  means  of  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping-knife,  in  the  hands  of  the  barbarians  under  his 
command.  Among  the  first  of  these  victims,  was  Miss 
Jenny  McCrea,  who  was  murdered  in  a  manner  extremely 
shocking  to  the  feelings  of  humanity.  The  father  of  Miss 
McCrea  was  friendly  towards  the  royalists,  and  the  young 
lady  was  engaged  to  marry  a  refugee  officer  in  Burgoyne's 
army,  by  the  name  of  Jones,  and  waited  his  arrival  in 
order  to  have  the  marriage  consummated.  When  our  army 
retreated  from  Fort  Edward,  Miss  McCrea  had  the  indis 
cretion  to  remain  behind,  probably  with  the  expectation 
of  meeting  her  lover.  The  Indians,  however,  soon  made 
her  their  prisoner,  and  on  their  return  towards  Burgoyne's 
camp,  a  quarrel  arose  to  decide  who  should  hold  possession 
of  the  fair  prize.  During  the  controversy,  one  of  the 
monsters  struck  his  tomahawk  into  her  skull,  and  imme 
diately  stripped  off  her  scalp. 

General  Gates  complains  to  General  Burgoyne  of  this 
and  other  outrages  in  the  following  words:  "A  young 
lady,  Miss  McCrea,  lovely  to  the  sight,  of  virtuous  char 
acter  and  amiable  disposition,  engaged  to  be  married  to 
an  officer  in  your  army,  was,  with  other  women  and  chil 
dren,  taken  out  of  a  house  near  Fort  Edward,  carried  into 
the  woods,  and  there  scalped  and  mangled  in  a  most 
shocking  manner.  Two  parents  with  their  six  children, 
were  all  treated  with  the  same  inhumanity,  while  quietly 
residing  in  their  own  happy  and  peaceful  dwellings.  The 
miserable  fate  of  Miss  McCrea  was  peculiarly  aggravated 
by  her  being  dressed  to  receive  her  promised  husband — • 
but  met  her  murderer,  employed  by  you.  Upwards  of 
one  hundred  men,  women  and  children,  have  perished  by 
the  hands  of  ruffians,  to  whom  it  is  asserted  you  have  paid 
the  price  of  blood."  This  appears  since  to  be  rather  an 
exaggerated  charge.  In  General  Burgoyne's  reply,  he 
says,  "The  fact  was  no  premeditated  barbarity:  on  the 
contrary,  two  chiefs  who  had  brought  Miss  McCrea  off, 
for  the  purpose  of  security,  not  of  violence  to  her  person, 
disputed  which  should  be  her  guard,  and  in  a  fit  of  savage 
passion,  in  the  one  from  whose  hands  she  was  snatched, 
the  unhappy  woman  became  the  victim."  He  expressed 
sorrow  and  regret  for  the  tragic  scenes,  and  further  stated 


96  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

that  he  obliged  the  Indians  to  give  up  the  murderer  into 
his  hands,  and  he  certainly  should  have  suffered  an  igno 
minious  death,  had  he  not  been  convinced  that  a  pardon 
on  his  terms  would  be  more  efficacious  than  an  execution, 
to  prevent  further  mischief.  That  he  paid  for  scalps,  he 
denies;  but  the  Indians  were  to  receive  compensation  for 
prisoners.  This  cruel  conduct  of  the  royalists  is  contem 
plated  with  horror  and  detestation  by  all  ranks  of  people, 
except  their  friends  and  adherents.  It  is  impossible  not  to 
detest  that  cause  and  that  army  which  accepts  the  aid  of  sav 
age  auxiliaries,  and  encourages  them  in  inhuman  slaughter 
and  bloodshed.  This  measure  was  certainly  countenanced 
and  recommended  by  his  majesty  and  his  ministers,  and 
General  Burgoyne  acknowledges  that  he  allowed  the  In 
dians  to  take  the  scalps  of  the  dead.  It  must  be  most 
painful  for  the  impartial  historian  to  record,  and  it  will 
require  the  strongest  faith  of  the  reader  in  future  ages  to 
credit,  the  disgraceful  story  that  Britons,  who  pride  them 
selves  on  their  civility  and  humanity,  employed  the  wild 
savages  of  the  wilderness  in  a  war  against  a  people  united 
to  them  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity.  That  age,  and  the 
helpless  invalid,  women,  and  children  at  the  breast,  are  all 
alike  subjected  to  the  merciless  fury  of  barbarians.  That 
British  generals  should  be  so  regardless  of  the  dignity  of 
their  station,  and  the  voice  of  humanity,  as  to  receive  from 
the  hands  of  these  ferocious  wretches  the  scalps  torn  from 
the  skulls  of  innocent  persons! 

13^/L — There  is  a  constant  intercourse  kept  up  between 
thi$  city  and  our  army  near  Stillwater,  by  which  we  are 
regularly  apprised  of  daily  occurrences.  It  is  now  ascer 
tained  that  Burgoyne  has  crossed  the  Hudson,  and  en 
camped  at  Saratoga,  about  thirty-six  miles  above  Albany. 

17th. — General  Gates,  reposing  full  confidence  in  the 
courage  and  strength  of  his  army,  seems  to  have  deter 
mined  to  march  and  confront  his  formidable  enemy,  and 
endeavor  to  force  him  and  his  troops  back  to  Canada, 
which,  in  his  orders,  issued  to  inspire  his  troops  with  ardor, 
he  says,  "has  been  successfully  begun  by  General  Stark 
and  Colonel  Warner  at  the  eastward;  and  by  General 
Herkimer  and  Colonel  Gansevort  at  the  westwarfl ;  and 
cannot,  with  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  fail  to  be  equally 
prosperous  in  the  hands  of  the  generals  and  soldiers  ap 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  97 

pointed  to  face  the  enemy's  main  army  at  the  northward. 
If  the  murder  of  aged  parents,  with  their  innocent  chil 
dren;  if  mangling  the  blooming  virgin,  and  inoffensive 
youth,  are  inducements  to  revenge — if  the  righteous  cause 
of  freedom,  and  the  happiness  of  posterity,  are  motives  to 
stimulate  to  conquer  their  mercenary  and  merciless  foes, 
the  time  is  now  come,  when  they  are  called  on  by  their 
country,  by  their  general,  and  by  every  thing  divine  and 
human,  to  vanquish  the  foe." 

18th  and  19th. — Our  army  is  advancing  towards  the 
enemy  in  three  columns,  under  Generals  Lincoln  and 
Arnold,  General  Gates  in  the  centre.  A  terrible  conflict 
is  daily  expected';  both  parties  appear  to  be  determined  to 
commence  the  work  of  destruction. 

20th. — By  express  arrived  in  this  city  last  night,  it  is 
announced  that  the  two  armies  fought  in  the  field,  yester 
day,  a  very  sanguinary  battle,  the  particulars  of  which 
are  not  fully  understood ;  but  it  is  reported  that  from  the 
closeness  and  obstinacy  of  the  combat,  the  carnage  on  both 
sides  was  prodigious.  It  is  with  inexpressible  satisfaction 
that  we  learn  our  troops  behaved  with  that  undaunted 
bravery  which  has  secured  to  them  the  victory,  and  were 
it  not  for  the  darkness  of  the  evening  when  the  battle 
closed,  it  would  have  been  more  complete. 

21st  and  22d — A  considerable  number  of  officers  and 
soldiers  who  were  wounded  in  the  late  battle,  have  been 
brought  here  to  be  accommodated  in  our  hospital,  or  in 
private  houses  in  this  city.  Several  of  these  unfortunate 
but  brave  men  have  received  wounds  of  a  very  formidable 
and  dangerous  nature,  and  many  of  them  must  be  sub 
jected  to  capital  operations. 

23d — From  the  officers  who  were  engaged  in  the  battle, 
I  have  obtained  the  following  particulars.  Our  army, 
under  the  command  of  General  Gates,  was  stationed  in 
the  vicinity  of  Stillwater,  when  they  advanced  towards 
the  enemy  and  offered  them  battle.  Colonel  Morgan's 
regiment  of  riflemen,  and  Major  Dearborn's  light  infantry, 
being  in  front,  received  the  first  fire  about  noon,  on  the 
19th  instant.  General  Burgoyne  was  at  the  head  of  his 
army,  and  Generals  Phillips,  Eeidesel  and  Frazer,  with 
their  respective  commands,  were  actively  engaged.  At 
about  three  o'clock,  both  armies  being  formed  in  a  line  of 


98  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

battle,  the  action  became  general,  and  the  combatants  on 
both  sides  evinced  that  ardor  and  gallantry  which  shows 
a  determination  to  conquer  or  die.  The  firing  for  about 
three  hours  was  incessant,  with  continued  tremendous  roar 
and  blaze,  filling  the  field  with  carnage  and  death.  Few 
battles  have  been  more  obstinate  and  unyielding — at  one 
point  the  British  are  overpowered ;  but  being  reinforced, 
the  Americans  are  baffled;  these,  being  supported  and  re 
newing  their  efforts,  regain  their  advantages;  the  same 
ground  is  occupied  alternately,  the  dead  and  wounded  of 
both  parties  are  mingled  together.  The  British  resort  re 
peatedly  to  their  bayonets  without  effect — the  Americans 
resist  and  foil  their  attempts.  Captain  Jones,  of  the  Brit 
ish  artillery,  had  the  command  of  four  pieces  of  cannon, 
which  he  conducted  with  great  skill  and  v.alor  till  he  fell, 
and  thirty-six  out  of  forty-eight  of  his  artillery  men  were 
killed  or  wounded;  his  cannon  were  repeatedly  taken  and 
retaken,  but  finally  remained  with  the  enemy  for  the  want 
of  horses  to  bring  them  off.  During  the  engagement,  a 
number  of  our  soldiers  placed  themselves  in  the  boughs 
of  high  trees,  in  the  rear  and  flanks,  and  took  every  op 
portunity  of  destroying  the  British  officers  by  single  shot; 
in  one  instance,  General  Burgoyne  was  the  object,  but  the 
aid-de-camp  of  General  Phillips  received  the  ball  through 
his  arm,  while  delivering  a  message  to  Burgoyne;  the 
mistake,  it  is  said,  was  occasioned  by  having  his  saddle 
furnished  with  rich  lace,  and  was  supposed  by  the  marks 
man  to  be  the  British  commander.  In  the  dusk  of  even 
ing  the  battle  terminated,  the  British  in  one  quarter  silently 
retreating,  the  Americans  in  another  give  way,  and  quit 
the  long-contested  field.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brooks,  with 
the  eighth  Massachusetts  regiment,  remained  in  the  field 
till  about  eleven  o'clock,  and  was  the  last  who  retired. 
Major  Hull  commanded  a  detachment  of  three  hundred 
men,  who  fought  with  such  signal  ardor,  that  more  than 
half  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  whole  number 
of  Americans  engaged  in  this  action,  was  about  two  thou 
sand  five  hundred;  the  remainder  of  the  army,  from  its 
unfavorable  situation,  took  little  or  no  part  in  the  action. 
The  British  have  suffered  a  loss,  as  is  supposed,  of  more 
than  five  hundred  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  On 
the  side  of  the  Americans,  sixty-four  were  killed,  two 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  99 

hundred  and  seventeen  wounded,  and  thirty-eight  missing. 
Among  the  killed,  are  Colonels  Adams  and  Colburn,  two 
valuable  officers,  much  regretted.  The  victory  on  this 
important  occasion  is  claimed  by  the  enemy,  but  the  ad 
vantages  are  most  decidedly  on  the  side  of  the  Americans; 
they  were  the  assailants — they  held  their  ground  during 
the  day,  and  at  the  close  retired  to  their  encampment  with 
out  being  pursued.  The  royal  army  lay  all  the  ensuing 
night  on  their  arms  at  some  distance  from  the  field  of  battle. 

24th. — General  Lincoln  having  the  command  of  a  body 
of  New  England  militia,  detached  Colonel  Brown  with 
five  hundred  men  to  the  landing  at  Lake  George,  about 
three  miles  from  Ticonderoga,  and  more  than  forty  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  British  army.  Two  other  detachments 
were  also  sent  towards  Mount  Independence,  Fort  Anne 
and  Fort  Edward.  These  expeditions  being  faithfully 
executed,  were  attended  with  complete  success.  Colonel 
Brown  had  the  address  to  surprise  all  the  out-posts  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ticonderoga,  and  took  immediate  possession 
of  Mount  Defiance,  Mount  Hope,  and  a  block-house,  with 
two  hundred  batteaux,  an  armed  sloop,  and  several  gun 
boats,  about  three  hundred  prisoners,  with  their  small 
arms,  and  released  one  hundred  American  prisoners  from 
their  confinement. 

October  1st. — The  situation  of  the  royal  army  under 
Burgoyne,  is  now  considered  extremely  precarious;  his 
march  to  Albany  is  deemed  absolutely  impracticable,  and 
a  retreat  to  Canada  must  be  attended  with  insurmountable 
difficulties  and  dangers.  It  is  well  understood,  that  he 
calculates  on  the  cooperation  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by 
sending  from  New  York  a  force  up  the  North  river  to 
endeavor  to  effect  a  passage  to  Albany,  or  at  least  to  oc 
casion  such  alarm,  as  to  draw  off  a  part  of  General  Gates' 
army  from  before  him.  Messengers  or  persons  in  the 
character  of  spies,  are  frequently  suspected  of  passing  from 
one  British  commander  to  the  other.  A  man,  by  name 
Nathan  Palmer,  was,  a  few  days  since,  seized  in  General 
Putnam's  camp,  at  Peekskill,  under  suspicious  circum 
stances,  and  on  trial  was  found  to  be  a  lieutenant  in  the 
tory  new  levies,  and  he  was  executed  as  a  spy.* 

*  For  General  Putnam's  letter  to  Governor  Tryon,  respecting  Palmer, 
see  life  of  Putnam  in  the  Appendix. 


100  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

4th. — By  intelligence  from  camp,  it  appears  that  Bur 
goyne  has  thrown  up  a  line  of  intrench'ments  in  front  of 
his  camp,  and  is  making  every  possible  effort  to  strengthen 
his  position  and  prepare  for  another  conflict.  The  Cana 
dians  and  his  savage  allies  being  greatly  dissatisfied  and 
discouraged,  have  deserted  his  standard  since  the  last  battle. 
The  advantages  obtained  over  the  enemy  on  this  occasion, 
excites  the  greatest  exultation  and  rejoicing  throughout 
our  army  and  country.  It  is  indeed  a  remarkable  fact, 
which  must  animate  the  heart  of  every  friend  to  the  cause 
of  America,  that  our  troops,  so  little  accustomed  to  en 
counter  the  prowess  of  European  veterans,  and  the*  pecu 
liar  warfare  of  the  savages,  should  face  these  enemies  with 
such  undaunted  courage  arid  intrepidity.  Sanguine  hopes 
are  now  entertained  that  we  shall,  by  the  help  of  Provi 
dence,  be  finally  enabled  to  destroy  or  capture  the  whole 
British  army.  Our  troops  are  panting  for  another  oppor 
tunity  of  displaying  their  valor,  and  another  dreadful 
conflict  is  daily  expected;  alternate  hopes  and  fears  con 
tinually  agitate  our  minds,  and  create  the  greatest  anxiety 
and  solicitude.  What  can  excite  ideas  more  noble  and 
sublime,  than  impending  military  events,  on  which  depend 
the  destiny  of  a  nation? 

6th. — An  express  passed  through  this  city,  on  his  way 
to  General  Grates'  head-quarters,  with  the  information  that 
a  detachment  of  troops  from  New  York,  supposed  to  be 
about  four  thousand,  under  command  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
and  General  Yaughan,  have  undertaken  an  expedition  up 
the  North  river.  Their  object  undoubtedly  is,  to  possess 
themselves  of  Fort  Montgomery  and  Fort  Clinton,  in  the 
highlands,  and  to  make  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Burgoyne. 
General  Putnam  was  stationed  at  Peekskill  with  a  small 
force,  but  being  totally  unable  to  cope  with  the  enemy, 
has  retired  to  some  distance.  Should  this  expedition  be 
crowned  with  success,  it  will  be  in  the  power  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  to  convey  his  army  to  this  city,  and  even  to  our 
camp  at  Stillwater,  which  will  place  our  army  between 
two  fires.  Should  General  Gates  detach  a  part  of  his 
troops  to  oppose  the  march  of  General  Clinton,  it  will  lib 
erate  Burgoyne,  and  he  would  probably  force  his  way  to 
this  city.  In  either  event,  the  consequences  must  be  ex- 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1777. 

ceedingly  disastrous  to  our  country.  "We  tremble  with 
apprehensions. 

8th. — The  anticipated  important  intelligence  has  just 
reached  us,  that  a  most  severe  engagement  took  place 
yesterday,  between  the  two  armies,  at  a  place  between 
Stillwater  and  Saratoga,  called  Bemis'  Heights.  It  is 
supposed  to  be  the  hardest  fought  battle,  and  the  most 
honorable  to  our  arrny,  of  any  since  the  commencement 
of  hostilities.  The  enemy  was  completely  repulsed  in 
every  quarter,  and  his  defeat  was  attended  with  irrepara 
ble  loss  of  officers,  men,  artillery,  tents  and  baggage.  Our 
officers  and  men  acquired  the  highest  honor;  they  fought 
like  heroes,  and  their  loss  is  very  inconsiderable.  General 
Arnold  has  received  a  wound  in  his  leg.  I  am  impatient 
to  receive  the  particular  details  of  this  capital  event. 

Qtfi  and  10th. — I  am  fortunate  enough  to  obtain  from  our 
officers,  a  particular  account  of  the  glorious  event  of  the 
7th  instant.  The  advanced  parties  of  the  two  armies 
came  into  contact,  about  three  o'clock  on  Tuesday  after 
noon,  and  immediately  displayed  their  hostile  attitude. 
The  Americans  soon  approached  the  royal  army,  and  each 
party  in  defiance  awaited  the  deadly  blow.  The  gallant 
Colonel  Morgan,  at  the  head  of  his  famous  rifle  corps,  and 
Major  Dearborn,  leading  a  detachment  of  infantry,  com 
menced  the  action,  and  rushed  courageously  on  the  British 
grenadiers,  commanded  by  Major  Ackland;  and  the  furi 
ous  attack  was  most  firmly  resisted.  In  all  parts  of  the 
field,  the  conflict  became  extremely  arduous  and  obstinate; 
an  unconquerable  spirit  on  each  side  disdaining  to  yield 
the  palrn  of  victory.  Death  appeared  to  have  lost  his  ter 
rors;  breaches  in  the  ranks  were  no  sooner  made  than 
supplied  by  fresh  combatants  awaiting  a  similar  fate.  At 
length  the  Americans  press  forward  with  renewed  strength 
and  ardor,  and  compel  the  whole  British  line,  commanded 
by  Burgoyne  himself,  to  yield  to  their  deadly  fire,  and 
they  retreat  in  disorder.  The  German  troops  remain 
firmly  posted  at  their  lines;  these  were  now  boldly  assault 
ed  by  Brigadier-General  Learned  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Brooks,  at  the  head  of  their  respective  commands,  with 
such  intrepidity,  that  the  works  were  carried,  and  their 
brave  commander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Breyman,  was  slain. 
The  Germans  were  pursued  to  their  encampment,  which, 


102  MILITAKY  JOUKNAL,  1777. 

with  all  the  equipage  of  the  brigade,  fell  into  our  hands. 
Colonel  Cilley,  of  General  Poor's  brigade,  having  acquitted 
himself  honorably,  was  seen  astride  on  a  brass  field-piece, 
exulting  in  the  capture.  Major  Hull,  of  the  Massachusetts 
line,  was  among  those  who  so  bravely  stormed  the  enemy's 
intrenchrnent  and  acted  a  conspicuous  part.  General  Ar 
nold,  in  consequence  of  a  serious  misunderstanding  with 
General  Gates,  was  not  vested  with  any  command,  by 
which  he  was  exceedingly  chagrined  and  irritated.  He 
entered  the  field,  however,  and  his  conduct  was  marked 
with  intemperate  rashness;  flourishing  his  sword  and 
animating  the  troops,  he  struck  an  officer  on  the  head 
without  cause,  and  gave  him  a  considerable  wound.  He 
exposed  himself  to  every  danger,  and  with  a  small  party 
of  riflemen,  rushed  into  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  where  he 
received  a  ball  which  fractured  his  leg,  and  his  horse  was 
killed  under  him.  Nightfall  put  a  stop  to  our  brilliant 
career,  though  the  victory  was  most  decisive,  and  it  is  with 
pride  and  exultation  that  we  recount  the  triumph  of 
American  bravery.  Besides  Lieutenant-Colonel  Breyman 
slain,  General  Frazer,  one  of  the  most  valuable  officers  in 
the  British  service,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  survived 
but  a  few  hours.*  Sir  Francis  Clark,  aid-de-camp  to  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne,  was  brought  into  our  carnp  with  a  mortal 
wound,  and  Major  Ackland,  who  commanded  the  British 
grenadiers,  was  wounded  through  both  legs,  and  is  our 
prisoner.  Several  other  officers  and  about  two  hundred 
privates  are  prisoners  in  our  hands,  with  nine  pieces  of 
cannon  and  a  considerable  supply  of  ammunition,  which 
was  much  wanted  for  our  troops.  The  loss  on  our  side 
is  supposed  not  to  exceed  thirty  killed  and  one  hundred 
wounded,  in  obtaining  this  signal  victory. 

llth. — The  night  after  the  battle,  Burgoyne   silently 

*  The  death  of  General  Frazer,  from  Professor  Silliman's  Travels. 
"In  the  action  oi'  7th  October,  1777,  Frazer  was  the  soul  of  the  British 
army,  and  was  just  changing  the  disposition  of  a  part  of  the  troops  to 
repel  a  strong  impression  which  the  Americans  had  made,  and  were  still 
making,  on  the  British  right,  when  Morgan  called  together  two  or  three 
of  his  best  marksmen,  and  pointing  to  Frazer,  said,  'Do  you  see  that 
gallant  officer? — that  is  General  Frazer — I  respect  and  honor  him;  but  it 
is  necessary  he  should  die.'  This  was  enough.  Frazer  immediately 
received  his  mortal  wound,  and  was  carried  off  the  field."  See  the 
Appendix. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  1Q3 

moved  from  his  position,  and  on  the  8th  there  was  con 
siderable  skirmishing  through  the  day,  with  some  loss  on 
both  sides.  We  have  to  lament  the  misfortune  of  Major- 
General  Lincoln,  who,  while  reconnoitring  the  enemy, 
advanced  so  near,  that  a  whole  volley  of  musketry  was 
discharged  at  him,  and  he  received  a  dangerous  wound  in 
his  leg.  It  is  reported  that,  the  day  after  the  battle,  up 
wards  of  one  hundred  of  the  enemy's  dead  were  found 
unburied  in  the  field.  General  Gates  having  detached  a 
body  of  troops  to  get  into  the  rear  of  the  British  army, 
Burgoyne  took  the  alarm,  and  resolved  to  retreat  imme 
diately  to  Saratoga;  accordingly  in  the  night  of  the  9th 
instant,  he  silently  moved  off,  leaving  in  our  pbssession 
his  hospital,  containing  three  hundred  sick  and  wounded, 
with  medicinal  stores,  and  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour, 
&c.  It  is  a  fact,  both  unaccountable  and  disgraceful,  that 
on  their  retreat  they  committed  the  most  wanton  devasta 
tions,  burning  and  destroying  almost  every  house  within 
their  reach;  the  elegant  and  valuable  country  seat  of 
General  Schuyler,  near  Saratoga,  did  not  escape  their  fury. 
The  situation  of  the  royal  army  is  now  extremely  deplora 
ble,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  possibility  of  their  final  escape. 
General  Gates  has  so  arranged  his  forces  as  to  cut  off  their 
retreat,  and  is  endeavoring  to  surround  them  on  every 
quarter.  May  the  Almighty  Kuler  grant  that  our  efforts 
may  be  crowned  with  still  more  glorious  success! 

12th. — The  wounded  officers  and  soldiers  of  our  army, 
and  those  of  the  enemy  who  have  fallen  into  our  hands, 
are  crowding  into  our  hospital,  and  require  our  constant 
attention.  The  last  night  I  watched  with  the  celebrated 
General  Arnold,  whose  leg  was  badly  fractured  by  a  mus 
ket-ball  while  in  the  engagement  with  the  enemy  on  the 
7th  instant.  He  is  very  peevish,  and  impatient  under  his 
misfortunes,  and  required  all  my  attention  during  the 
night,  but  I  devoted  an  hour  in  writing  a  letter  to  a  friend 
in  Boston,  detailing  the  particulars  of  the  late  battle. 

In  the  severe  battle  of  the  7th,  General  Burgoyne  him 
self,  it  is  now  ascertained,  had  a  hair  breadth  escape,  hav 
ing  one  bullet  pass  through  his  hat  and  another  tore  his 
waistcoat.* 

*  The  following  anecdote  shows  the  imminent  danger  to  which  a  part 
General  Gates'  army  was  at  one  time  exposed.     General  Gates  had 


104:  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

We  have  the  most  flattering  accounts  from  camp.  Our 
army  is  now  posted  within  musket-shot  of  the  enemy  at 
Saratoga,  and  are  forming  a  circle  round  them.  Some 
skirmishing  takes  place  every  day,  in  which  we  have  taken 
one  hundred  and  twenty  prisoners,  and  have  received  one 
hundred  and  sixty  deserters.  A  party  of  our  men  have 
taken  fifty  batteaux  loaded  with  provisions,  stores,  and 
medicines,  among  which  are  one  thousand  barrels  of  pork 
and  beef.  This  must  be  to  the  enemy  an  irreparable  loss, 
and  a  blow  which  must  hasten  the  destruction  or  surren 
der  of  their  whole  army. 

~L4th. — We  have  now  a  confirmation  of  the  intelligence 
that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  General  Vaughan  have  pushed 
up  the  North  river,  and  made  a  successful  attack  on  our 
forts  at  the  highlands.  Fort  Montgomery  and  Fort  Clin 
ton  are  near  to  each  other,  on  the  western  bank  of  the 
Hudson.  They  have  been  considered  of  great  importance 
as  defensive  posts,  against  the  passage  of  the  enemy  up 
the  river.  In  addition  to  these  forts,  a  strong  boom  and 
an  iron  chain  of  immense  size  were  stretched  across  the 
river,  and  a  frigate  and  two  gallies  were  stationed  above 

received  what  he  supposed  to  be  certain  intelligence  that  the  main  body 
of  Burgoyne's  army  had  marched  off  for  Fort  Edward,  and  that  a  rear 
guard  only  was  left  in  the  camp,  who  after  a  while  were  to  push  off  as 
fast  as  possible,  leaving  the  heavy  baggage  behind.  On  this  it  was 
concluded  to  advance  and  attack  the  camp  in  half  an  hour.  General 
Nixon's  being  the  eldest  brigade,  crossed  the  Saratoga  Creek  first:  un 
known  to  the  Americans,  Burgoyne  had  a  line  formed  behind  a  parcel 
of  brushwood  to  support  the  post  of  artillery  where  the  attack  was  to 
be  made.  General  Glover  with  his  brigade  was  on  the  point  of  following 
Nixon.  Just  as  he  entered  the  water,  he  saw  a  British  soldier  crossing, 
whom  he  called  and  examined.  This  soldier  was  a  deserter,  and  com 
municated  the  very  important  fact,  that  the  whole  British  army  were  in 
their  encampment.  Nixon  was  immediately  stopped,  and  the  intelligence 
conveyed  to  Gates,  who  countermanded  his  orders  for  the  assault,  and 
called  back  his  troops,  not  without  sustaining  some  loss  from  the  British 
artillery. — Gordon  and  Marshal. 

N.  B.  General  Wilkinson,  who  acted  as  General  Gates'  adjutant-gen 
eral,  asserts  in  his  memoirs,  that  he  first  discovered  the  British  at  their 
post,  through  a  thick  fog  while  his  horse  halted  to  drink  in  fording  the 
creek,  and  that  he  instantly  arrested  the  march  of  our  troops,  and  thereby 
saved  them  from  destruction.  He  makes  DO  mention  of  the  deserter. 
It  is  known  that  Burgoyne  has  frequently  expressed  his  extreme  disap 
pointment  that  he  was  baffled  in  this  stratagem;  and  Americans  ought 
never  to  forget  the  remarkable  Providential  escape. 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1777.  1Q5 

them.  By  these  means  it  was  always  supposed  that  the 
position  was  invulnerable,  provided  a  proper  number  of 
troops  were  posted  in  the  forts;  but  it  unfortunately  hap 
pened  that  most  of  the  continenial  troops  were  necessarily 
called  off  to  join  General  Gates'  army.  The  forts  were 
defended  by  Governor  George  Clinton  and  his  brother, 
General  James  Clinton,  of  New  York,  having  about  six 
hundred  militia-men — a  force  greatly  inadequate  to  the 
defence  of  the  works.  The  enemy  came  up  the  river, 
landed,  and  appeared  unexpectedly,  and  demanded  a  sur 
render  of  the  forts,  which  being  resolutely  refused,  were 
taken  by  assault,  though  not  without  a  firm  and  brave  re 
sistance.  General  James  Clinton  received  a  bayonet  wound 
in  his  thigh,  but  he  and  the  governor  with  a  part  of  the 
garrison  made  their  escape,  leaving  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  enemy 
suffered  a  severe  loss  of  three  field-officers  killed,  and  their 
dead  and  wounded  is  estimated  at  about  three  hundred. 
General  Putnam,  who  commanded  at  Peekskill  in  the 
vicinity,  having  a  small  force  only  to  guard  the  deposit 
of  stores,  was  obliged  to  retire,  and  the  barracks,  stores 
and  provisions,  to  a  very  considerable  amount,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  were  destroyed.  With  wan 
ton  cruelty  they  set  fire  to  the  houses  and  buildings  of 
every  description,  and  spread  ruin  and  devastation  to  the 
extent  of  their  power.  To  consummate  their  destructive 
scheme,  General  Vaughan  destroyed  by  conflagration  the 
beautiful  town  of  Esopus,  with  the  church,  and  every 
other  building  it  contained.  Thus  we  experience  the  hor 
rid  effects  of  malice  and  revenge ;  where  they  cannot  con 
quer,  they  wantonly  exterminate  and  destroy.  They  are 
well  apprised  of  the  disastrous  and  desperate  situation  of 
their  boastful  General  Burgoyne,  and  if  they  dare  not 
march  to  his  relief,  they  can  cowardly  retaliate  by  confla 
gration  with  impunity.  It  is  the  prevalent  opinion  here, 
that  by  taking  advantage  of  wind  and  tide,  it  is  in  the 
power  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  convey  his  forces  to  this 
city  within  the  space  of  five  or  six  hours,  and  having 
arrived  here,  a  march  of  about  twenty  miles  will  carry 
him  without  opposition  to  Stillwater,  which  must  involve 
General  Gates  in  inexpressible  embarrassment  and  diffi 
culty,  by  placing  him  between  two  armies,  and  thereby 


106  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

extricating  Burgoyne  from  his  perilous  situation.  "We 
have  been  tremblingly  alive  to  this  menacing  prospect, 
but  our  fears  are  in  a  measure  allayed  by  the  following 
singular  incident.  After  the  capture  of  Fort  Montgomery, 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  despatched  a  messenger,  by  the  name 
of  Daniel  Taylor,  to  Burgoyne  with  the  intelligence;  for 
tunately  he  was  taken  on  his  way  as  a  spy,  and  finding 
himself  in  danger,  he  was  seen  to  turn  aside  and  take 
something  from  his  pocket  and  swallow  it.  General 
George  Clinton,  into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen,  ordered 
a  severe  dose  of  emetic  tartar  to  be  administered;  this 
produced  the  happiest  effect  as  respects  the  prescriber; 
but  it  proved  fatal  to  the  patient.  He  discharged  a  small 
silver  bullet,  which,  being  unscrewed,  was  found  to  inclose 
a  letter  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  Burgoyne.  "Out  of 
thine  own  mouth  thou  shalt  be  condemned."  The  spy 
was  tried,  convicted  and  executed.  The  following  is  an 
exact  copy  of  the  letter  inclosed : 

Fort  Montgomery,  October  8th,  1777. 

Nous  void — and  nothing  between  us  but  Gates.  I  sincerely  hope 
this  little  success  of  ours  may  facilitate  your  operations.  In  answer  to 
your  letter  of  the  28th  of  September  by  C.  C.  I  shall  only  say,  I  cannot 
presume  to  order,  or  even  advise,"  for  reasons  obvious.  I  heartily  wish 
you  success.  Faithfully  yours,  H.  CLINTON. 

To  General  Burgoyne. 

14:th. — An  express  from  camp.  Burgoyne  has  this  day 
made  proposals  to  General  Gates  to  enter  into  a  treaty  for 
the  surrrender  of  his  army.  He  desires  a  cessation  of 
arms  till  the  preliminary  terms  can  be  settled,  to  which 
General  Gates  has  assented.  The  glorious  event  is  about 
to  be  consummated. 

\Qth  and  IQth. — Burgoyne's  message  to  General  Gates 
by  the  hands  of  Major  Kingston  is  as  follows: 

"  October  14th,  1777. 

"After  having  fought  you  twice,  Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne  has 
waited  some  days,  in  his  present  position,  determined  to  try  a  third  con 
flict  against  any  force  you  could  bring  to  attack  him. 

"He  is  apprised  of  the  superiority  of  your  numbers,  and  the  disposi 
tion  of  your  troops  to  impede  his  supplies  and  render  his  retreat  a  scene 
of  carnage  on  both  sides.  In  this  situation  he  is  impelled  by  humanity, 
and  thinks  himself  justified  by  established  principles  and  precedents  of 
state  and  of  war,  to  spare  the  lives  of  brave  men  on  honorable  terms: 
should  Major-General  Gates  be  inclined  to  treat  on  this  idea,  General 


LIEUTENANT   GENERAL   JOHN"  BURGOYNE. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

Burgoyne  would  propose  a  cessation  of  arms  during  the  time  necessary 
to  communicate  the  preliminary  terms,  by  which,  in  any  extremity,  he 
and  his  army  mean  to  abide." 

A  convention  was  in  consequence  opened,  and  two  days 
were  spent  in  a  discussion  and  interchange  of  articles 
between  the  two  commanders.  It  was  agreed  that  the 
articles  should  be  mutually  signed  and  exchanged  to-mor 
row  morning  the  17th  instant,  at  nine  o'clock;  and  the 
troops  under  Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne  are  to  march 
out  of  their  intrenchments  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

The  substance  of  the  treaty  is,  that  the  troops  under  the 
command  of  General  Burgoyne  shall  march  out  of  their 
camp  with  the  honors  of  war  and  their  field-artillery,  to 
the  place  assigned,  where  their  arms  and  artillery  shall  be 
piled  at  the  command  of  their  own  officers. 

That  the  troops  be  allowed  to  return  to  England,  on 
condition  that  they  shall  not  serve  again  in  America  during 
the  present  war.  That  the  officers  be  allowed  to  wear 
their  side-arms,  and  be  treated  according  to  their  rank. 
That  the  European  troops  march  immediately  for  Boston, 
to  be  in  readiness  to  embark  when  transports  shall  be  sent 
for  them,  and  that  the  Canadians  be  permitted  to  return 
home  immediately,  on  the  sole  condition  of  their  not  arm 
ing  again  against  the  United  States. 

ISt/i. — At  the  appointed  hour  yesterday  morning  the 
Americans  marched  into  the  lines  of  the  British  to  the 
tune  of  Yankee  Doodle,  where  they  continued  till  the 
royal  army  had  marched  to  the  place  appointed  and  de 
posited  their  arms  according  to  the  treaty. 

It  is  a  circumstance  characteristic  of  the  amiable  and 
benevolent  disposition  of  General  Gates,  that,  unwilling 
to  aggravate  the  painful  feelings  of  the  royal  troops,  he 
would  not  permit  the  American  soldiery  to  witness  the 
degrading  act  of  piling  their  arms.  This  instance  of  del 
icacy  and  politeness,  at  the  moment  of  triumph,  towards 
an  enemy  who  had  committed  the  most  unprecedented 
outrages,  is  a  mark  of  true  magnanimity,  and  deserves  the 
highest  praise,  though  it  deprives  our  army  of  the  satis 
faction  to  which  they  are  justly  entitled.* 

The  preliminaries  having  been  acceded  to  by  the  two 

*  For  the  first  interview  between  the  royal  general  officers  and  their 
conqueror,  see  Life  of  General  Gates,  in  the  Appendix. 


108  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

commanders,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wilkinson,  deputy  ad 
jutant-general,  and  Brigadier-General  Whipple,  of  the 
militia,  on  our  part,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sutherland, 
Major  Kingston,  and  Captain  Craig,  on  the  part  of  the 
British,  were  appointed  to  stipulate  and  arrange  the  par 
ticular  articles  of  capitulation.  So  very  tenacious  were  the 
British  of  the  trivial  points  of  military  honor,  that,  after 
they  had  signed  the  "treaty  of  capitulation"  as  it  was 
termed,  they  required  that  the  term  should  be  altered  to 
"treaty,  of  convention"  in  which  they  were  indulged  by 
General  Gates,  as  being  of  little  consequence  on  our  part. 
During  the  pending  negotiation,  several  hundred  of  the 
New  York  militia,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired, 
marched  off  the  ground  without  permission  from  General 
Gates;  and  the  same  night  Burgoyne  received  intelligence 
by  a  spy  that  Sir  II.  Clinton,  having  taken  Fort  Montgom 
ery,  would  attempt  to  force  his  way  to  Albany.  Though 
the  articles  of  convention  were  fully  adjusted,  signed  and 
exchanged,  by  those  appointed  for  the  purpose,  and  the 
hour  stipulated  by  the  parties  for  Burgoyne  to  affix  his 
signature,  he  addressed  a  note  to  General  Gates,  purporting 
that  he  should  recede  from  the  treaty,  on  the  ground  that 
a  part  of  the  American  force  had  been  detached  from  the 
army  during  the  negotiation;  and  with  a  bold  effrontery, 
required  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  send  two  officers  to 
our  camp  to  ascertain  the  fact.  This  dishonorable  conduct, 
as  may  be  supposed,  raised  the  ire  of  our  spirited  com 
mander,  who  sent  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wilkinson  to  have 
a  personal  interview  with  Burgoyne,  and  to  insist  that 
hostilities  should  recommence,  if  the  treaty  was  not  irnme- 
diately*ratified.  This,  after  much  hesitation  on  the  part 
of  Burgoyne  and  his  officers,  produced  the  desired  effect. 
His  contemplated  alternative  was,  to  abandon  his  carnp, 
artillery,  heavy  baggage  and  sick,  and,  by  a  desperate 
effort  in  the  night,  to  force  his  way  through  our  army,  and 
make  a  rapid  march  to  Albany  with  the  hope  of  meeting 
General  Sir  II.  Clinton.  It  is  considered  singular  that  it 
was  not  demanded  of  the  captured  general  to  deliver  up 
his  military  chest,  colors,  and  soldiers'  accoutrements;  but 
the  success  of  General  Clinton  in  reducing  Fort  Montgom 
ery,  and  the  serious  apprehensions  of  General  Gates  that 
lie  would  force  his  way  to  Albany,  and  the  desire  of  the 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

latter  to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  are  the  substantial 
causes  which  procured  for  Burgoyne  the  favorable  terms 
which  he  enjoys.  It  is  satisfactory  to  learn  that  the  British 
officers,  in  general,  candidly  acknowledged  that  the  Amer 
ican  troops  conducted  on  all  occasions  with  the  greatest 
bravery,  and  when,  after  their  surrender,  they  visited  and 
took  a  view  of  our  camp,  expressed  much  surprise  at  the 
military  order  and  economy  which  were  conspicuous  in 
every  part,  and  said  that  they  never  had  seen,  even  in 
Germany,  an  encampment  more  systematically  and  prop 
erly  disposed.  The  trophies  which  we  have  achieved  by 
this  great  event,  are,  officers  and  soldiers,  five  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  ninety-one.  It  has  been  estimated 
that  Burgoyne's  army,  at  the  commencement  of  the  cam 
paign,  was  full  ten  thousand  strong;  the  deficiency  now, 
must  be  accounted  for  by  the  killed,  loss  by  sickness,  pris 
oners  and  deserters.  Among  the  officers  taken,  are  six 
members  of  the  British  Parliament.  The  train  of  brass 
artillery  and  other  ordnance  are  immensely  valuable,  con 
sisting  of  forty-two  pieces  of  brass  ordnance,  besides  seven 
thousand  muskets,  with  six  thousand  dozen  cartridges  and 
an  ample  supply  of  shot,  shells,  &c.  To  these  are  added, 
clothing  for  seven  thousand  men,  a  large  number  of  tents 
and  other  military  stores.  Thus  we  witness  the  incalcu 
lable  reverse  of  fortune,  and  the  extraordinary  vicissitudes 
of  military  events,  as  ordained  by  Divine  Providence.  The 
same  haughty  commander,  who  but  a  few  weeks  since, 
flushed  with  victory,  was  harassing  our  retreating  army 
in  every  direction ;  that  proud,  assuming  foe,  who  so  often 
threatened  to  lay  waste  our  cities  and  country,  and  who  said 
in  his  orders,  early  in  the  campaign,  "this  army  must  not 
retreat,"  is  now  reduced  to  the  mortifying  alternative  of 
suing  for  terms  of  surrender,  to  those  powers  whom  he 
affected  to  treat  with  sovereign  contempt.  It  must  be 
doubly  mortifying  to  contrast  his  present  humble  condition 
with  that  when  he  published  his  pompous  and  bombastic 
proclamation,  calling  on  towns  and  people  to  send  dele 
gates  to  supplicate  his  favor  and  clemency,  and  threatening 
vengeance  against  all  those  who  should  dare  to  disobey 
his  commands,  or  oppose  his  authorit}-.  There  are  per 
haps  few  examples  in  the  annals  of  warfare,  of  a  whole 
army  under  a  celebrated  general,  and  officers  of  the  first 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

^character;  gentlemen  of  noble  families,  and  military  merit, 
being  reduced  to  the  mortifying  condition  of  captives,  led 
through  a  country  which  it  was  designed  should  have  been 
devoted  to  their  all-conquering  power.  The  intelligence 
of  these  events  to  the  British  government,  must  affect 
them  like  the  shock  of  a  thunderbolt,  and  demonstrate  to 
them  the  invincibility  of  a  people  united  in  the  noble 
cause  of  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man.  This  event  will 
make  one  of  the  most  brilliant  pages  of  American  history. 
General  Gates  has  crowned  himself  with  unfading  laurels 
and  immortal  honor;  he  has  vanquished  a  commander 
of  established  military  fame,  at  the  head  of  a  veteran  army, 
lie  has  displayed  the  qualities  of  a  general,  the  magna 
nimity  of  a  philanthropist,  and  the  amiable  and  polite 
civilities  of  a  gentleman.  No  less  dignified  and  brave 
as  a  commander,  than  beneficent  and  generous  as  a  con 
queror,  he  is  remarkable  for  his  humanity  to  prisoners, 
and  a  desire  to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the  unfortunate. 
Among  the  objects  in  distress,  which  claimed  his  attention, 
was  the  lady  of  Major  Ackland,  commander  of  the  British 
grenadiers,  who  was  dangerously  wounded  and  captured 
during  the  battle  of  the  7th  of  October.  This  heroic  lady, 
from  conjugal  affection,  was  induced  to  follow  the  fortune 
of  her  husband  during  the  whole  campaign  through  the 
wilderness.  Having  been  habituated  to  a  mode  of  life 
with  which  those  of  rank  and  fortune  are  peculiarly 
favored,  her  delicate  frame  is  ill-calculated  to  sustain  the 
indescribable  privations  and  hardships  to  which  she  was 
unavoidably  exposed  during  an  active  campaign.  Her 
vehicle  of  conveyance  wras,  part  of  the  time,  a  small  two- 
wheeled  tumbril,  drawn  by  a  single  horse,  over  roads 
almost  impassable.  Soon  after  she  received  the  affecting 
intelligence  that  her  husband  had  received  a  wound,  and 
was  a  prisoner,  she  manifested  the  greatest  tenderness  and 
affection,  and  resolved  to  visit  him  in  our  camp  to  console 
and  alleviate  his  sufferings.  With  this  view  she  obtained 
a  letter  from  Burgoyne  to  General  Gates,  and  not  permit 
ting  the  prospect  of  being  out  in  the  night,  and  drenched 
in  rain,  to  repress  her  zeal,  she  proceeded  in  an  open  boat, 
with  a  few  attendants,  and  arrived  at  our  out-post  in  the 
night,  in  a  suffering  condition,  from  extreme  wet  and  cold. 
The  sentinel,  faithful  to  his  duty,  detained  them  in  the 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

boat  till  Major  Dearborn,  the  officer  of  the  guard,  could 
arrive.  He  permitted  them  to  land,  and  afforded  Lady  Ack- 
land  the  best  accommodations  in  his  power,  and  treated 
her  with  a  cup  of  tea  in  his  guard-house.  When  General 
Gates,  in  the  morning,  was  informed  of  the  unhappy 
situation  of  Lady  Ackland,  he  immediately  ordered  her 
a  safe  escort,  and  treated  her  himself  with  the  tenderness 
of  a  parent,  directing  that  every  attention  should  be  be 
stowed  which  her  rank,  or  sex,  character  and  circumstances 
required.  She  was  soon  conveyed  to  Albany,  where  she 
found  her  wounded  husband.  For  further  particulars 
respecting  this  highly  respectable  and  interesting  lady,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  Appendix. 

In  the  military  transactions  in  the  northern  department, 
the  labors  and  efforts  of  Major-General  Schuyler  are  ac 
knowledged  to  be  eminently  important  and  useful.  He, 
is  undoubtedly  entitled  to  the  character  of  an  intelligent 
and  meritorious  officer.  As  a  private  gentleman  he  is 
dignified,  but  courteous,  his  manners  are  urbane,  and  his 
hospitality  is  unbounded.  He  is  justly  considered  as  one 
of  our  most  distinguished  champions  of  liberty,  and  his 
noble  mind  has  soared  above  despair,  even  at  a  period 
when  he  experienced  injustice  from  the  public,  and  when 
darkness  and  gloom  overspread  our  land.  Though  he 
was  not  invested  with  any  active  command,  he  was  present 
at  the  surrender  of  the  British  army,  which  was  near  the 
spot  where  his  elegant  country-seat  had  been  demolished. 
Here  he  sought  an  interview  with  the  Baroness  Reidesel, 
who  with  her  three  children,  for  she  was  entrusted  with 
this  charge  during  the  campaign,  he  politely  accommodated 
in  his  own  tent,  and  invited  her  to  become  his  guest  at 
his  residence  at  Albany.  On  the  day  of  the  surrender, 
all  the  captive  generals  dined  with  General  Gates,  and 
received  from  him  the  kindest  civilities  and  attention. 

We  have  now  brought  to  a  glorious  termination  a  mili 
tary  campaign,  pregnant  with  remarkable  vicissitudes  and 
momentous  events;  the  result  of  which,  seemed  for  a  time 
to  poise  on  a  pinnacle  of  sanguine  hopes  and  expectations 
on  the  one  side,-  and  the  most  appalling  apprehensions  on 
the  other.  All  gratitude  and  praise  be  ascribed  to  Him 
who  alone  limits  the  extent  of  human  power,  and  decrees 
the  destiny  of  nations ! 


112  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

2lst. — The  captive  Generals  Burgoyne,  Phillips,  Eeide- 
sel,  &c.  with  a  number  of  ladies  of  high  rank,  arrived  last 
evening  at  the  hospitable  mansion  of  General  Schuyler  in 
this  city.  His  seat  is  about  one  mile  out  of  town,  and  I 
have  frequently  made  it  a  walk  for  amusement.  It  is  a 
house  of  two  stories,  in  elegant  ancient  style,  and  fancifully 
ornamented.  I  am  informed  that  it  has  for  several  gen 
erations  been  celebrated  for  the  great  respectability  and 
generous  hospitalit}7"  of  its  inhabitants.  During  the  last 
French  war,  it  was  almost  a  general  resort  for  British  of 
ficers,  as  well  as  strangers  and  travellers  of  note. 

22J. — The  magnanimous  General  Schuyler,  with  his 
lady  and  daughters,  have  given  their  unfortunate  guests 
a  friendly  and  polite  reception,  characteristic  of  this  noble 
spirited  family.  Notwithstanding  General  Burgoyne 
destroyed  their  beautiful  villa  at  Saratoga,  they  appear 
disposed  to  console  them  in  their  misfortune  by  all  the 
civilities  and  attention  in  their  power. 

23o?. — General  Burgoyne  gratefully  acknowledged  the 
generous  treatment  received  from  General  Schuyler,  and 
observed  to  him,  "  You  show  me  great  kindness,  sir,  though 
I  have  done  you  much  injury."  To  which  he  magnani 
mously  replied,  "  That  was  the  fate  of  war!  let  us  say  no 
more  about  it." 

2±th. — This  hospital  is  now  crowded  with  officers  and 
soldiers  from  the  field  of  battle;  those  belonging  to  the 
British  and  Hessian  troops,  are  accommodated  in  the  same 
hospital  with  our  own  men,  and  receive  equal  care  and 
attention.  The  foreigners  are  under  the  care  and  man 
agement  of  their  own  surgeons.  I  have  been  present  at 
some  of  their  capital  operations,  and  remarked  that  the 
English  surgeons  perform  with  skill  and  dexterity,  but 
the  Germans,  with  a  few  exceptions,  do  no  credit  to  their 
profession ;  some  of  them  are  the  most  uncouth  and  clumsy 
operators  I  ever  witnessed,  and  appear  to  be  destitute  of 
all  sympathy  and  tenderness  towards  the  suffering  patient. 
Not  less  than  one  thousand  wounded  and  sick  are  now  in 
this  city;  the  Dutch  church,  and  several  private  houses 
are  occupied  as  hospitals.  We  have  about  thirty  surgeons, 
and  mates;  and  all  are  constantly  employed.  I  am  obliged 
to  devote  the  whole  of  my  time,  from  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning  to  a  late  hour  in  the  evening,  to  the  care  of  our 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

patients.  Here  is  a  fine  field  for  professional  improvement. 
Amputating  limbs,  trepanning  fractured  skulls,  and  dress 
ing  the  most  formidable  wounds,  have  familiarized  rny 
mind  to  scenes  of  woe.  A  military  hospital  is  peculiarly 
calculated  to  afford  examples  for  profitable  contemplation, 
and  to  interest  our  sympathy  and  commiseration.  If  I 
turn  from  beholding  mutilated  bodies,  mangled  limbs  and 
bleeding,  incurable  wounds,  a  spectacle  no  less  revolting 
is  presented,  of  miserable  objects,  languishing  under  af 
flicting  diseases  of  every  description— here,  are  those  in  a 
mournful  state  of  despair,  exhibiting  the  awful  harbingers 
of  approaching  dissolution — there,  are  those  with  emaciated 
bodies  and  ghastly  visage,  who  begin  to  triumph  over 
grim  disease  and  just  lift  their  feeble  heads  from  the  pillow 
of  sorrow.  No  parent,  wife  or  sister,  to  wipe  the  tear  of 
anguish  from  their  e}res,  or  to  soothe  the  pillow  of  death, 
they  look  up  to  the  physician  as  their  only  earthly  friend 
and  comforter,  and  trust  the  hands  of  a  stranger  to  perform 
the  last  mournful  duties.  Frequently  have  I  remarked 
their  confidence  in  my  friendship,  as  though  I  was  endeared 
to  them  by  brotherly  ties.  Viewing  these  unfortunate  men 
as  the  faithful  defenders  of  the  liberties  of  our  country,  far 
separated  from  their  dearest  friends,  who  would  be  so  lost 
to  the  duties  of  humanity,  patriotism,  and  benevolence, 
as  not  to  minister  to  their  comfort,  and  pour  into  their 
wounds  the  healing  balm  of  consolation  r  It  is  my  lot 
to  have  twenty  wounded  men  committed  to  my  care,  by 
Dr.  Potts,  our  surgeon-general;  one  of  whom,  a  young 
man,  received  a  musket-ball  through  his  cheeks,  cutting 
its  way  through  the  teeth  on  each  side,  and  the  substance 
of  the  tongue;  his  sufferings  have  been  great,  but  he  now 
begins  to  articulate  tolerably  well.  Another  had  the 
whole  side  of  his  face  torn  off  by  a  cannon-ball,  laying 
his  mouth  and  throat  open  to  view.  A  brave  soldier  re 
ceived  a  musket-ball  in  his  forehead,  observing  that  it  did 
not  penetrate  deep,  it  was  imagined  that  the  ball  rebounded 
and  fell  out;  but  after  several  days,  on  examination,  I 
detected  the  ball  laying  flat  on  the  bone,  and  spread  under 
the  skin,  which  I  removed.  No  one  can  doubt  but  he 
received  his  wound  while  facing  the  enerny,  and  it  is  for 
tunate  for  the  brave  fellow  that  his  skull  proved  too  thick 
for  the  ball  to  penetrate.  But  in  another  instance,  a  sol- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

dier's  wound  was  not  so  honorable;  he  received  a  ball  in 
the  bottom  of  his  foot,  which  could  not  have  happened 
unless  when  in  the  act  of  running  from  the  enemy.  This 
poor  fellow  is  held  in  derision  by  his  comrades,  and  is 
made  a  subject  of  their  wit  for  having  the  mark  of  a  cow 
ard.  Among  the  most  remarkable  occurrences  which 
came  under  my  observation,  the  following  is  deserving  of 
particular  notice.  Captain  Greg,  of  one  of  the  New  York 
regiments,  while  stationed  at  Fort  Stanwix,  on  the  Mohawk 
river,  went  with  two  of  his  soldiers  into  the  woods  a  short 
distance  to  shoot  pigeons;  a  party  of  Indians  started  sud 
denly  from  concealment  in  the  bushes,  shot  them  all  down, 
tomahawked  and  scalped  them,  and  left  them  for  dead. 
The  captain,  after  some  time,  revived,  and  perceiving  his 
men  were  killed,  himself  robbed  of  his  scalp,  and  suffering 
extreme  agony  from  his  numerous  wounds,  made  an  effort 
to  move,  and  lay  his  bleeding  head  on  one  of  the  dead 
bodies,  expecting  soon  to  expire.  A  faithful  dog  who 
accompanied  him,  manifested  great  agitation,  and  in  the 
tenderest  manner  licked  his  wounds,  which  afforded  him 
great  relief  from  exquisite  distress.  He  then  directed  the 
dog,  as  if  a  human  being,  to  go  in  search  of  some  person 
to  come  to  his  relief.  The  animal,  with  every  appearance 
of  anxiety,  ran  about  a  mile,  when  he  met  with  two  men 
fishing  in  the  river,  and  endeavored  in  the  most  moving 
manner,  by  whining  and  piteous  cries,  to  prevail  on  them 
to  follow  him  into  the  woods;  struck  with  the  singular 
conduct  of 'the  dog,  they  were  induced  to  follow  him  part 
of  the  way,  but  fearing  some  decoy  or  danger,  they  were 
about  to  return,  when  the  dog,  fixing  his  eyes  on  them, 
renewed  his  entreaties  by  his  cries,  and  taking  hold  of 
their  clothes  with  his  teeth,  prevailed  on  them  to  follow 
him  to  the  fatal  spot.  Such  was  the  remarkable  fidelity 
and  sagacity  of  this  animal.  Captain  Greg  was  immedi 
ately  carried  to  the  fort,  where  his  wounds  were  dressed; 
he  was  afterwards  removed  to  our  hospital,  and  put  under 
my  care.  He  was  a  most  frightful  spectacle,  the  whole 
of  his  scalp  was  removed;  in  two  places  on  the  fore  part 
of  his  head,  the  tomahawk  had  penetrated  through  the 
skull;  there  was  a  wound  on  his  back  with  the  same  in 
strument,  besides  a  wound  in  his  side  and  another  through 
his  arm  by  a  musket-ball.  This  unfortunate  man;  after 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 


115 


suffering  extremely  for  a  long  time,  finally  recovered,  and 
appeared  to  be  well  satisfied  in  having  his  scalp  restored 
to  him,  though  uncovered  with  hair.  The  Indian  mode 
of  scalping  their  victims  is  this — with  a  knife  they  make 
a  circular  cut  from  the  forehead,  quite  round,  just  above 
the  ears,  then  taking  hold  of  the  skin  with  their  teeth, 
they  tear  off  the  whole  hairy  scalp  in  an  instant,  with 
wonderful  dexterity.  This  they  carefully  dry  and  pre 
serve  as  a  trophy,  showing  the  number  of  their  victims, 
and  they  have  a  method  of  painting  on  the  dried  scalp, 
different  figures  and  colors,  to  designate  the  sex  and  age 
of  the  victim,  and  also  the  manner  and  circumstances  of 
the  murder. 

November  10th. — I  witnessed  yesterday  the  singular 
ceremony  performed  at  a  treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  of 
Indians.  General  Schuyler,  and  two  other  gentlemen, 
were  the  commissioners  on  our  part.  Of  the  Indians, 
about  two  hundred  men  and  women  attended.  In  the 
morning,  I  walked  into  the  woods  near  this  city,  and  was 
amused  to  see  them  occupied  in  dressing  and  ornamenting 
themselves  for  the  ceremony;  painting  their  faces,  adjust 
ing  their  hair,  putting  jewels  into  their  ears,  noses,  &c. 
The  face  was  painted  of  various  colors;  in  general  red, 
spotted  with  black  and  white  in  a  fanciful  manner.  The 
men  had  their  hair  cut  close  to  the  skin,  except  a  lock  on 
the  top  of  the  head.  The  women  wore  long  hair,  orna 
mented  with  beads  and  other  trinkets.  The  bodies  and 
limbs  of  both  sexes  were  decently  covered  in  the  Indian 
style,  and  some  displayed  large  silver  rings  round  the  arm, 
and  a  profusion  of  party-colored  beads,  fancifully  arranged 
about  the  legs  and  feet.  Several  of  the  young  men  and 
girls  were  furnished  with  little  bells  about  their  feet,  to 
make  a  jingling  when  dancing.  About  eleven  o'clock, 
the  ceremony  commenced  on  the  common;  the  Indians 
arranged  themselves,  by  sitting  on  the  ground  in  a  circle, 
the  men  on  one  side,  the  women  on  the  other,  leaving  a 
vacancy  for  our  commissioners,  who  were  seated  in  chairs. 
In  the  centre  of  the  circle  was  a  fire,  over  which  a  large 
pot  containing  meat  broth,  or  soup,  was  placed.  The 
speakers  were  three  elderly  chiefs;  their  speeches  or  talks 
were  short,  and  at  the  close  of  each,  the  speaker  delivered 
to  the  commissioners  a  belt  or  string  of  wampum,  curiously 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

worked  with  porcupine  quills,  and  handsomely  painted, 
a.s  a  pledge  of  sincerity.  The  interpreter  explained  in 
English.  In  the  intervals  between  the  talks,  the  whole 
of  the  Indians  and  squaws  threw  their  bodies  into  odd 
motions,  and  at  the  same  time  a  noise  came  from  their 
throats  very  similar  to  the  grunting  of  swine,  which,  I 
suppose,  was  a  token  of  approbation.  They  next  com 
menced  dancing,  by  uniting  hands  two  or  three  at  a  time, 
and  jumping  merrily  round  the  pot  over  the  fire,  animated 
by  the  music  of  a  small  drum  resembling  a  keg  covered 
with  a  skin,  and  the  jingling  of  the  bells  attached  to  their 
legs  and  feet.  The  interpreter,  by  desire  of  the  chiefs, 
requested  that  our  commissioners  would  not  be  offended 
at  the  liberty  which  they  were  about  to  take.  One  of  the 
chiefs  then  took  the  commissioners,  one  at  a  time,  by  the 
hand,  and  danced  them  round  the  circle;  then  rubbing  his 
hand  about  the  grease  and  blacking  of  the  pot,  he  black 
ened  the  face,  first  of  General  Schuyler,  and  then  the  other 
gentlemen,  which  excited  much  laughter.  Whether  this 
was  a  trick  to  excite  a  laugh,  or  a  part  of  their  national 
ceremony,  I  was  unable  to  ascertain.  The  Indians  con 
tinued  dancing  round  the  fire,  drinking  the  soup  from  the 
pot,  and  regaling  themselves  with  rum  all  night,  and  many 
of  them  were  found  drunk  in  the  morning. 

My  professional  duties  have  been  so  pressing  as  to  pre 
clude  the  possibility  of  journalizing  to  the  full  extent  of 
my  wishes.  The  numerous  important  events  which  have 
occurred  to  our  main  army  under  General  Washington, 
in  the  Jerseys  and  Pennsylvania,  have  been  from  time  to 
time  announced  in  the  public  papers,  and  in  our  general 
orders.  A  very  brief  retrospect  of  the  most  interesting 
occurrences  during  the  campaign  in  that  quarter  must 
suffice  me. 

General  Washington,  having  ascertained  that  it  was  the 
great  object  of  Sir  William  Howe  to  possess  himself  of  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  put  in  requisition  every  effort  in  his 
power  to  counteract  his  measures  for  this  purpose.  His 
force  (luring  the  whole  campaign  was  considerably  inferior 
to  that  of  the  enemy.  Battles  and  skirmishing  of  more 
or  less  importance  were  frequent,  but  not  decisive,  though 
attended  by  no  inconsiderable  loss  of  human  lives.  On 
.the  llth  of  September  the  two  armies  approached  each 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1777. 

other  in  the  order  of  battle,  and  a  general  action  took 
place  at  Brandy  wine,  in  which  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
both  armies  displayed  a  spirit  of  intrepidity  and  heroism, 
scarcely  ever  exceeded.  The  British  claim  the  victory; 
but  it  was  only  a  partial  one,  and,  besides  a  prodigious 
sacrifice  of  lives,  they  failed  in  their  main  object,  that  of 
forcing  their  way  to  Philadelphia.  It  is  stated,  that  from 
particular  circumstances,  little  more  than  one-half  of  Gen 
eral  Washington's  force  was  opposed  to  nearly  the  whole 
strength  of  the  enemy.  Our  loss  is  mentioned  in  round 
numbers  at  one  thousand.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette 
and  General  Woodford  were  slightly  wounded.  The  loss 
of  the  royalists,  according  to  accounts  published,  greatly 
exceeds  that  of  the  Americans. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  Monsieur  de  Condry,  an 
officer  of  rank  and  distinction  in  the  French  service,  and 
acting  as  a  volunteer  in  our  army,  having  occasion  to  cross 
the  Schuylkill  ferry,  rode  a  high-spirited  horse  into  the 
boat,  which,  taking  fright,  leaped  into  the  river,  and  the 
rider  was  unfortunately  drowned.  Congress  resolvt^l  that 
the  corpse  of  Monsieur  de  Condry  be  interred  at  the  ex 
pense  of  the  United  States,  and  with  the  honors  of  war. 

Sir  William  Howe,  on  the  26th  of  September,  after 
much  manoeuvring  and  skirmishing,  accomplished  his 
great  enterprise,  and  made  his  triumphal  entry  into  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  met  with  a  cordial  welcome 
from  the  Quakers,  and  a  considerable  number  of  the  in 
habitants,  who  have  long  been  known  to  be  in  favor  of 
the  royalists. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  General  Washington  planned  an 
attack  on  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  stationed  at  Ger- 
mantown,  near  Philadelphia.  The  enterprise  was  planned 
with  such  judgment  and  skill,  as  to  afford  promise  of  a 
complete  victory.  The  execution  of  it  was  conducted  by 
his  excellency,  who  attacks  like  a  hero  and  retreats  like 
a  general,  and  whose  presence  infuses  into  the  ranks  the 
spirit  of  heroism  and  enthusiasm.  Were  it  not  for  some 
unfortunate  incidents,  and  the  faulty  conduct  of  a  few  in 
dividuals,  his  most  sanguine  hopes  would  have  been  real 
ized.  The  enemy  was  actually  taken  by  surprise,  and  in 
one  point  a  party  was  routed,  and  one  hundred  and  ten 
made  prisoners,  but  were  afterwards  retaken.  Almost  the 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

whole  force  of  both  armies  was  involved  in  the  tremendous 
contest,  in  which  British  and  American  bravery  were 
equally  conspicuous^and  sealed  the"  fate  of  many  valiant 
officers  and  men.  7  "The  morning,"  says  General  Wash 
ington's  letter  to  Congress,  "  was  extremely  foggy,  which 
prevented  our  improving  the  advantage  we  had  gained, 
so  well  as  we  otherwise  should  have  done.  This  circum 
stance,  by  concealing  from  us  the  true  situation  of  the 
enemy,  obliged  us  to  act  with  more  caution  and  less  ex 
pedition  than  we  could  have  wished,  and  gave  the  enemy 
time  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  our  first  impression; 
and  what  was  still  more  unfortunate,  it  served  to  keep  our 
different  parties  in  ignorance  of  each  other's  movements, 
and  hindered  their  acting  in  concert;  it  also  occasioned 
them  to  mistake  one  another  for  the  enemy,  which  I  be 
lieve  more  than  any  thing  else,  contributed  to  the  misfor 
tunes  which  ensued.  In  the  midst  of  the  most  promising 
appearances,  when  every  thing  gave  the  most  flattering 
hopes  of  victory,  the  troops  began  suddenly  to  retreat,  and 
entirely  left  the  field,  in  spite  of  every  effort  that  could  be 
rnadefo  rally  them.  On  the  whole,  it  may  be  said,  this 
day  was  rather  unfortunate  than  injurious.  The  principal 
impediment  to  our  success  was,  that  at  the  moment  of  vic 
tory,  the  enemjf  threw  a  party  into  Mr.  Chew's  stone  house, 
who  were  in  a  situation  not  easily  to  be  forced ;  and  had 
it  in  their  power,  from  the  windows,  to  give  us  considera-' 
ble  annoyance,  and  in  a  measnre  to  obstruct  our  advance." 

A  general  officer  who  was  engaged  in  the  battle  says: 
"Fortune  smiled  on  our  arms  for  hours.  The  enemy  were 
broken,  dispersed  and  flying  on  all  quarters:  we  were  in 
possession  of  their  whole  encampment,  together  with  their 
artillery  park,  &c.  But  confusion  at  last  ensued,  and  we 
ran  away  from  the  arms  of  victory  ready  to  receive  us." 
It  is  not  to  be  concealed,  however,  that  our  army  suffered 
a  very  considerable  loss,  the  whole  number  is  not  ascer 
tained.  General  Nash,  of  North  Carolina,  received  a 
mortal  wound,  and  General  Sullivan's  two  aids  were  killed. 
On  the  side  of  the  royalists,  General  Agnew,  General  de 
Heister's  son,  and  several  other  officers  were  killed.  Gen 
eral  Kniphausen  was  wounded,  and  a  great  number  of 
rank  and  file  were  wounded  and  slain. 

The  Americans  have  erected  several  forts  and  redoubts 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  H9 

on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  river,  and  on  Mud  Island, 
to  guard  against  the  passage  of  the  British  fleet  up  this 
river  to  Philadelphia.  In  one  of  these  forts  at  Bed  Bank, 
Colonel  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island,  was  posted  with  about 
four  hundred  men.  General  Howe,  perceiving  the  great 
importance  of  reducing  these  works,  detached  Count  Donop, 
an  officer  held  in  high  estimation  in  the  royal  army,  with 
twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  Hessian  troops,  well  supplied 
with  artillery,  to  take  possession  of  it.  Having  arrived 
near  the  redoubts,  he  summoned  the  commander  to  sur 
render,  to  which  he  resolutely  replied,  he  would  defend 
the  place  to  the  last  extremity.  This  fort  being  originally 
constructed  on  a  large  scale,  it  was  found  necessary  to  run 
a  line  across  the  middle,  and  divide  it  into  two,  so  that 
the  external  part  was  left  without  defence.  The  Hessian 
commander  ordered  his  troops  to  advance  under  cover  of 
the  smoke  of  his  cannon  and  storm  the  redoubt;  they 
soon  gained  the  unoccupied  part  with  loud  huzzas  on  their 
supposed  victory ;  but  on  approaching  the  new  lines  within, 
where  our  troops  were  stationed,  the  brave  garrison  poured 
on  them  such  hot  and  well-directed  fire  for  about  forty 
minutes,  that  they  were  completely  overpowered,  and  fled 
in  every  direction.  Colonel  Donop,  their  commander, 
was  mortally  wounded  and  taken,  and  more  than  one 
hundred  were  killed  on  the  spot,  and  a  greater  number 
wounded  and  prisoners.  The  enemy  retreated  with  great 
precipitation,  leaving  many  of  their  wounded  on  the  road, 
and  returned  to  Philadelphia  with  the  loss  of  one-half  their 
party.  Colonel  Greene,  and  his  brave  troops,  acquired 
great  honor  for  their  gallant  defence  of  the  fort,  which  is 
a  key  to  other  posts  on  the  river.  Congress  have  rewarded 
the  colonel  with  an  elegant  sword.  The  British  army 
found  it  difficult  to  procure  the  necessary  supplies  in 
Philadelphia,  and  the  continental  galleys  and  strong  che- 
vaux  defrize  in  the  Delaware,  rendered  a  passage  of  their 
ships  up  to  the  city  almost  impossible.  Admiral  Lord 
Howe  determined  to  attempt  the  removal  of  these  for 
midable  obstructions,  and  he  ordered  six  of  his  ships  to 
engage  in  this  service.  They  were  so  unmercifully  han 
dled  by  our  galleys,  and  from  Fort  Mifflin,  at  Mud  Island, 
that  two  of  them,  one  of  sixty-four  guns,  run  aground  and 


120  MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1777, 

were  set  on  fire  by  the  crews,  who  deserted  them,  and  soon 
after  they  blew  up. 

December. — Fort  Mifflin,  on  Mud  Island,  has  been  evacu 
ated  by  the  continental  garrison,  after  having  been  bravely 
defended  against  the  prodigious  force  of  the  enemy's  ship 
ping.  Our  troops  secured  all  their  stores,  destroyed  the 
block-houses,  and  demolished  the  bank,  to  let  in  the  water, 
by  which  the  island  is  entirely  inundated.  The  fort  at 
Eed  Bank  is  also  abandoned,  and  the  continental  fleet  has 
been  burned,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  The  British  are  now  in  full  possession  of  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  and  their  fleet  has  obtained  access  to  it 
by  way  of  the  Delaware  river.  The  continental  army, 
since  the  close  of  tHe  campaign,  has  retired  for  winter- 
quarters  to  a  place  called  'Yalley  Forge,  about  twenty  miles 
from  Philadelphia.  Here  they  are  subjected  to  the  fatigue 
and  labor  of  clearing  the  woods  and  constructing  log  huts 
for  their  accommodation  during  the  winter. 

An  occurrence  of  a  very  singular  complexion  has  lately 
been  published  in  a  Pennsylvania  newspaper,  which  occa 
sions  much  indignant  speculation.  The  Keverend  Jacob 
Duche,  a  popular  Episcopal  minister  in  Philadelphia,  was 
the  first  chaplain  appointed  by  Congress.  He  performed 
his  official  duties  to  general  acceptance,  frequently  and 
fervently  imploring  Heaven  to  succeed  the  American  cause. 
"Whether  from  alarm  at  the  success  of  the  royalists,  or  from 
any  change  in  his  sentiments  respecting  the  justice  of  our 
cause,  is  uncertain,  but  after  having  officiated  about  three 
months,  he  gave  in  his  resignation.  He  left  Philadelphia, 
and  "took  shelter  under  the  arm  of  that  power  which  from 
the  sacred  pulpit  he  had  exhorted  his  hearers  to  oppose." 
But  it  is  no  less  extraordinary,  that  this  apostate  addressed 
a  letter  to  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  with  whom 
he  was  on  terms  of  friendship,  in  which,  to  use  the  au 
thor's  own  words,  "he  has  spoken  freely  of  Congress,  and  of 
the  army"  He  enjoins  it  on  his  excellency  to  abandon 
the  American  cause,  and  resign  his  command  of  the  army; 
or  at  the  head  of  it,  to  force  Congress  immediately  to  de 
sist  from  hostilities  and  to  rescind  their  declaration  of 
Independence.  If  this  is  not  done,  he  says,  "You  have 
an  infallible  resource  still  left,  negotiate  for  America  at  the 
head  of  your  army"  He  represents  the  Congress  in  the 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1777. 

most  despicable  point  of  view,  as  consising  of  weak,  ob 
scure  persons,  not  fit  associates  for  bis  excellency,  and  the 
very  dregs  of  the  first  Congress.  The  New  England  del 
egates  he  treats  with  the  greatest  indelicacy.  The  officers 
and  men  which  compose  our  army,  he  describes  as  desti 
tute  of  principle  and  courage;  undisciplined,  taken  from 
the  lowest  of  the  people,  unfit  for  a  seat  at  his  excellency's 
table,  &c.,  &c.  Thus  has  this  vile  calumniator  disgraced 
his  profession,  and  involved  his  own  character  in  that 
ignominy  which  he  designed  for  his  superiors.  His  ex 
cellency  in  noticing  this  transaction  in  a  letter  of  October 
the  16th,  observes,  "To  Mr.  Duche's  ridiculous,  illiberal 
performance,  I  made  a  very  short  reply,  by  desiring  the 
bearer,  Mrs.  Ferguson,  if  she  should  hereafter,  by  any 
accident  meet  with  Mr.  Duche,  to  tell  him  I  should  have 
returned  his  letter  unopened  if  I  had  had  any  idea  of  its 
contents.* 

20t/i. — The  wounded  soldiers  committed  to  my  care  in 

*  The  following  is  the  form  of  prayer  made  use  of  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Duche  in  the  Congress  after  Independence  was  declared: 

"O  Lord!  our  heavenly  Father,  high  and  mighty,  King  of  kings,  and 
Lord  of  lords,  who  dost  from  thy  throne  behold  all  the  dwellers  on 
earth,  and  reignest  with  power  supreme  and  uncontroled  over  all  king 
doms,  empires  and  governments.  Look  down  in  mercy,  we  beseech 
thee,  on  these  our  American  states,  who  have  fled  to  thee  from  the  rod 
of  the  oppressor,  and  thrown  themselves  on  thy  gracious  protection, 
desiring  to  be  henceforth  dependent  only  on  thee;  to  thee  have  they 
appealed  for  the  righteousness  of  their  cause;  to  thee  do  they  now  look 
up  for  that  countenance  and  support,  which  thou  alone  canst  give;  take 
them,  therefore,  heavenly  Father,  under  thy  nurturing  care;  give  them 
wisdom  in  council,  and  valor  in  the  field;  defeat  the  malicious  designs 
of  our  cruel  adversaries;  convince  them  of  the  unrighteousness  of  their 
cause,  and  if  they  still  persist  in  their  sanguinary  purposes,  O!  let  the 
voice  of  thine  own  unerring  justice,  sounding  in  their  hearts,  constrain 
them  to  drop  the  weapons  of  war  from  their  unnerved  hands  in  the  day 
of  battle.  Be  thou  present,  O  God  of  wisdom,  and  direct  the  councils 
of  this  honorable  assembly;  enable  them  to  settle  things  on  the  best 
and  surest  foundation,  that  the  scene  of  blood  may  be  speedily  closed, 
that  order,  harmony  and  peace  may  be  effectually  restored,  and  truth 
and  justice,  religion  and  piety,  prevail  and  flourish  amongst  thy  people; 
preserve  the  health  of  their  bodies  and  the  vigor  of  their  minds;  shower 
down  on  them,  and  the  millions  they  here  represent,  such  temporal  bless 
ings,  as  thou  seest  expedient  for  them  in  this  world,  and  crown  them 
with  everlasting  glory  in  the  world  to  come.  All  this  we  ask  in  the 
name,  and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son  and  our  Saviour. 
AMEN." 


122  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

October  last,  have  all  recovered,  and  as  a  compliment  for 
my  assiduity,  and  attention  to  my  patients,  I  have  received 
from  Dr.  Potts,  our  surgeon-general,  a  generous  and  hand 
some,  present.  The  duties  of  our  hospital  being  now  greatly 
diminished,  I  have  obtained  a  furlough  for  forty  days,  ami 
shall  to-morrow  commence  my  journey  to  visit  my  friends 
in  New  England. 

February  4:th,  1778. — Having  performed  a  journey  on 
horseback  to  Boston  and  Barnstable,  in  Massachusetts,  I 
returned  here  two  days  before  the  expiration  of  my  fur 
lough,  and  resumed  my  duties  in  the  hospital.  Several 
gentlemen  belonging  to  the  hospital  being  desirous  of  im 
proving  in  the  accomplishment  of  dancing,  Mr.  John  Trot 
ter  has  agreed  to  open  a  special  school  for  our  accommoda 
tion  arid  we  are  to  attend  every  afternoon.  Master  Trotter 
has  for  many  years  been  in  the  practice  of  teaching  the  art 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  has  acquired  great  fame  as 
a  man  of  knowledge  and  experience  in  his  profession.  He 
is  about  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  a  small,  genteel,  well-pro 
portioned  man,  every  limb  and  joint  proclaiming  that  he 
is  formed  for  his  profession;  and  the  ease  and  grace  with 
which  he  moves  on  the  floor,  evince  that  he  is  an  accom 
plished  master,  and  that  he  has  lost  none  of  his  agility  by 
age.  Under  the  tuition  of  such  a  master,  we  flatter  our 
selves  that  in  due  time,  if  we  improve  our  advantages, 
we  shall  be  able  to  figure  in  a  ball-room. 

I0lh. — I  have  now  obtained  a  particular  description  of 
the  American  Torpedo,  and  other  ingenious  submarine 
machinery,  invented  by  Mr.  David  Bushnell,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  destroying  shipping  while  at  anchor,  some  account 
of  which  may  be  found  in  this  Journal,  page  62.  The 
external  appearance  of  the  torpedo  bears  some  resem 
blance  to  two  upper  tortoise  shells,  of  equal  size,  placed 
in  contact,  leaving,  at  that  part  which  represents  the  head 
of  the  animal,  a  flue  or  opening,  sufficiently  capacious  to 
contain  the  operator,  and  air  to  support  him  thirty  minutes. 
At  the  bottom,  opposite  to  the  entrance,  is  placed  a  quantity 
of  lead  for  ballast.  The  operator  sits  upright,  and  holds 
an  oar  for  rowing  forward  or  backward,  and  is  furnished 
with  a  rudder  for  steering.  An  aperture  at  the  bottom, 
with  its  valve,  admits  water  for  the  purpose  of  descending, 
and  two  brass  forcing  pumps  serve  to  eject  the  water  with- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778.  123 

in,  when  necessary  for  ascending.  The  vessel  is  made 
completely  water-tight,  furnished  with  glass  windows  for 
the  admission  of  light,  with  ventilators  and  air-pipes, 
and  is  so  ballasted,  with  lead  fixed  at  the  bottom,  as  to 
render  it  solid,  and  obviate  all  danger  of  oversetting. 
Behind  the  submarine  vessel,  is  a  place  above  the  rudder 
for  carrying  a  large  powder  magazine;  this  is  made  of 
two  pieces  of  oak  timber,  large  enough,  when  hollowed 
out,  to  contain  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  powder, 
with  the  apparatus  used  for  firing  it,  and  is  secured  in  its 
place  by  a  screw  turned  by  the  operator.  It  is  lighter 
than  water,  that  it  may  rise  against  the  object  to  which  it 
is  intended  to  be  fastened.  Within  the  magazine,  is  an 
apparatus  constructed  to  run  any  proposed  length  of  time 
under  twelve  hours;  when  it  has  run  out  its  time,  it  un- 
pinions  a  strong  lock,  resembling  a  gun-lock,  which  gives 
fire  to  the  powder.  This  apparatus  is  so  pinioned,  that  it 
cannot  possibly  move,  till,  by  casting  off  the  magazine 
from  the  vessel,  it  is  set  in  motion.  The  skilful  operator 
can  swim  so  low  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  as  to  ap 
proach  very  near  a  ship  in  the  night,  without  fear  of  being 
discovered ;  and  ma}^  if  he  choose,  approach  the  stern  or 
stem,  above  water,  with  very  little  danger.  He  can  sink 
very  quickly,  keep  at  any  necessary  depth,  and  row  a  great 
distance  in  any  direction  he  desires  without  coming  to  the 
surface.  When  he  rises  to  the  surface,  he  can  soon  obtain 
a  fresh  supply  of  air,  and,  if  necessary,  he  may  then  de 
scend  again  and  pursue  his  course.  Mr.  Bushnell  found 
that  it  required  many  trials  and  considerable  instruction 
to  make  a  man  of  common  ingenuity  a  skilful  operator. 
The  first  person,  his  brother,  whom  he  employed,  was  very 
ingenious,  and  made  himself  master  of  the  business,  but 
was  taken  sick  before  he  had  an  opportunity  to  make  use 
of  his  skill.  Having  procured  a  substitute,  and  given  him 
such  instruction  as  time  would  allow,  he  was  directed  to 
try  an  experiment  on  the  Eagle,  a  sixty-four-gun  ship,  on 
board  of  which  Lord  Howe  commanded,  lying  in  the  har 
bor  of  New  York.  He  went  under  the  ship,  and  at 
tempted  to  fix  the  wooden  screw  into  her  bottom,  but 
struck,  as  he  supposes,  a  bar  of  iron  which  passes  from 
the  rudder  hinge,  and  is  spiked  under  the  ship's  quarter 
Had  he  moved  a  few  inches,  which  he  might  have  done 
9 


124  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

without  rowing,  there  is  no  doubt  lie  would  have  found 
wood  where  he  might  have  fixed  the  screw;  or  if  the  ship 
had  been  sheathed  with  copper,  he  might  easily  have 
pierced  it.  But  not  being  well  skilled  in  the  management 
of  the  vessel,  in  attempting  to  move  to  another  place,  he 
lost  the  ship.  After  seeking  her  in  vain,  for  some  time, 
he  rowed  some  distance,  and  rose  to  the  surface  of  the 
water,  but  found  day-light  had  advanced  so  far,  that  he 
durst  not  renew  the  attempt.  He  says  that  he  could  easily 
have  fastened  the  magazine  under  the  stern  of  the  ship, 
above  water,  as  he  rowed  up  to  the  stern  and  touched  it 
before  he  descended.  Had  he  fastened  it  there,  the  explo 
sion  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  powder,  the 
quantity  contained  in  the  magazine,  must  have  been  fatal 
to  the  ship.  In  his  return  from  the  ship  to  New  York, 
he  passed  near  Governor's  Island,  and  thought  he  was 
discovered  by  the  enemy  on  the  island.  Being  in  haste, 
to  avoid  the  danger  he  feared,  he  cast  off  the  magazine, 
as  he  imagined  it  retarded  him  in  the  swell,  which  was 
very  considerable.  After  the  magazine  had  been  cast  off 
one  hour,  the  time  the  internal  apparatus  was  set  to  run, 
it  blew  up  with  great  violence,  throwing  a  vast  column  of 
water  to  an  amazing  height  in  the  air,  and  leaving  the 
enemy  to  conjecture  whether  the  stupendous  noise  was 
produced  by  a  bomb,  a  meteor,  a  water-spout,  or  an  earth 
quake.  Some  other  attempts  were  made  in  Hudson's 
river,  in  one  of  which  the  operator,  in  going  towards  the 
ship,  lost  sight  of  her  and  went  a  great  distance  beyond 
her,  and  the  tide  ran  so  strong  as  to  baffle  all  his  efforts. 
Mr.  Bushnell  being  in  ill  health,  and  destitute  of  resources, 
was  obliged  to  abandon  his  pursuit  at  that  time,  and  wait 
for  a  more  favorable  opportunity,  which  never  occurred. 
In  the  year  1777,  Mr.  Bushnell  made  an  attempt  from  a 
whale-boat,  against  the  Cerberus  frigate  lying  at  anchor, 
by  drawing  a  machine  against  her  side,  by  means  of  a  line. 
The  machine  was  loaded  with  powder,  to  be  exploded  by 
a  gun-lock,  which  was  to  be  un pinioned  by  an  apparatus 
to  be  turned  by  being  brought  alongside  of  the  frigate. 
This  machine  fell  in  with  a  schooner  at  anchor  astern  of 
the  frigate,  and  concealed  from  his  sight.  By  some  means 
it  became  fixed,  and  exploding,  demolished  the  schooner. 
Commodore  Simmons,  being  on  board  the  Cerberus,  ad- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

dressed  an  official  letter  to  Sir  Peter  Parker,  describing 
this  singular  disaster.  Being  at  anchor  to  the  westward 
of  New  London,  with  a  schooner  which  he  had  taken, 
discovered  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  a  line  tow 
ing  astern  from  the  bows.  He  believed  that  some  person 
had  veered  away  by  it,  and  immediately  began  to  haul  in. 
A  sailor,  belonging  to  the  schooner,  taking  it  for  a  fishing- 
line,  laid  hold  of  it,  and  drew  in  about  fifteen  fathoms. 
It  was  buoyed  up  by  small  pieces  of  wood  tied  to  it  at 
stated  distances.  At  the  end  of  the  rope  a  machine  was 
fastened,  too  heavy  for  one  man  to  pull  up,  for  it  exceeded 
one  hundred  pounds  in  weight.  The  other  people  of  the 
schooner  coming  to  his  assistance,  they  drew  it  on  deck. 
While  the  men  were  examining  the  machine,  about  five 
minutes  from  the  time  the  wheel  had  been  put  in  motion, 
it  exploded,  blew  the  vessel  into  pieces,  and  set  her  on 
fire.  Three  men  were  killed,  and  the  fourth  blown  into 
the  water,  much  injured.  On  examining  round  the  ship, 
after  this  accident,  the  other  part  of  the  line  was  discovered, 
buoyed  up  if  the  same  manner.  This  the  commodore 
ordered  to  be  instantly  cut  away,  for  fear  of  hauling  up 
another  of  the  infernals,  as  he  termed  it.  These  machines 
were  constructed  with  wheels,  furnished  with  irons  sharp 
ened  at  the  end,  and  projecting  about  an  incn,  in  order  to 
strike  the  sides  of  the  vessel  when  hauling  them  up,  there 
by  setting  the  wheels  in  motion,  which  in  the  space  of  five 
minutes  causes  the  explosion.  Had  the  whole  apparatus 
been  brought  to  operate  on  a  ship  at  the  same  time,  it 
must  have  occasioned  prodigious  destruction.  Mr.  Bush- 
nell  contrived  another  ingenious  expedient  to  effect  his 
favorite  object.  He  fixed  a  large  number  of  kegs  under 
water,  charged  with  powder,  to  explode  on  coming  in  con 
tact  with  any  thing  while  floating  along  with  the  tide.  He 
set  his  squadron  of  kegs  afloat  in  the  Delaware,  above  the 
English  shipping,  in  December,  1777.  The  kegs  were  in 
the  night  set  adrift,  to  fall  with  the  ebb,  on  the  shipping; 
but  the  proper  distance  could  not  be  well  ascertained,  and 
they  were  set  adrift  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the  vessels, 
by  which  means  they  were  obstructed  and  dispersed  by 
the  ice.  They  approached,  however,  in  the  day  time,  and 
one  of  them  blew  up  a  boat,  and  others  exploded,  which 
occasioned  among  the  British  seamen  the  greatest  alarm 


126  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

and  consternation.  They  actually  manned  the  wharves 
and  shipping  at  Philadelphia,  and  discharged  their  small 
arms  and  cannon  at  every  thing  they  could  see  floating 
in  the  river,  during  the  ebb  tide.  This  incident  has  re 
ceived  the  name  of  the  Battle  of  the  Kegs,  and  furnished 
a  subject  for  an  excellent  and  humorous  song  by  the 
Honorable  Francis  Hopkinson,  which  is  inserted  in  the 
Appendix. 

ApriL — Major-General  Lee,  captured  by  the  enemy  in 
December,  1776,  has  been  exchanged  for  Major-General 
Prescott,  who  was  taken  at  Ehode  Island,  by  Colonel 
Barton. 

The  glorious  intelligence  being  announced,  that  Con 
gress  have  negotiated  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  the  Court  of 
France,  General  Washington  has  issued  the  following 
orders  for  the  army  to  celebrate  the  momentous  event: 

"Head  Quarters,  Camp,  Valley  Forge,  May  5l1i,  1778. 

"It  having1  pleased  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  the  Universe  propitiously 
to  defend  the  cause  of  the  United  American  States,  and  finally,  by  rais 
ing  us  up  a  powerful  friend  among  the  princes  of  the  eHrth,  to  establish 
our  liberty  and  independence  on  a  lasting  foundation;  it  becomes  us  to 
set  apart  a  day  for  gratefully  acknowledging  the  Divine  goodness,  and 
celebrating  the  important  event  which  we  owe  to  His  benign  interposition. 

"The  severa^jrigades  are  to  be  assembled  for  this  purpose  at  nine 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  when  their  chaplains  will  communicate  the 
intelligence  contained  in  the  Postscript  to  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of 
the  second  instant,  and  offer  up  a  Thanksgiving,  and  deliver  a  discourse 
suitable  to  the  occasion. 

"At  half-past  ten  o'clock  a  cannon  will  be  fired,  which  is  to  be  a  sig 
nal  for  the  men  to  be  under  arms.  The  brigade  inspectors  will  then 
inspect  their  dress  and  arms,  form  the  battalions  according  to  the  instruc 
tions  given  them,  and  announce  to  the  commanding  officers  of  brigades 
that  the  battalions  are  formed.  The  brigadiers  and  commandants  will 
then  appoint  the  field-officers  to  command  the  battalions;  after  which, 
each  battalion  will  be  ordered  to  load  and  ground  their  arms. — At  half- 
past  eleven,  another  cannon  will  be  fired  as  a  signal  for  the  march;  on 
which  the  several  brigades  will  begin  their  march  by  wheeling  to  the 
right  by  platoons,  and  proceed  by  the  nearest  way  to  the  left  of  their 
ground,  in  the  new  position  that  will  be  pointed  out  by  the  brigade 
inspectors. — A  third  signal  will  be  given,  on  which  there  will  be  a  dis 
charge  of  thirteen  cannon:  when  the  thirteenth  has  fired,  a  running  fire 
of  the  infantry  will  begin  on  the  right  of  Woodford's,  and  continue 
throughout  the  whole  front  line;  it  will  then  be  taken  up  on  the  left  of 
the  second  line,  and  continue  to  the  right — on  a  signal  given,  the  whole 
army  will  huzza — Long  live  the  King  of  France! 

The  artillery  will  then  begin  again,  and  fire  thirteen  rounds.     This 
will  be  succeeded  by  a  second  general  discharge  of  the  musketry  in  a 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

running  fire — Huzza!  long  live  the  Friendly  European  Powers!  Then 
the  last  discharge  of  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery  will  be  given,  followed 
by  a  general  running  fire — Huzza  for  the  American  States!" 

Agreebly  to  the  above  orders,  his  Excellency  General 
Washington,  his  lady  and  suite,  Lord  Stirling,  the  Coun 
tess  of  Stirling,  with  other  general  officers  and  ladies,  at 
tended  at  nine  o'clock  at  the  Jersey  brigade,  when  the 
Postscript  mentioned  above, 'was  read,  and  after  prayer  a 
suitable  discourse  delivered  to  Lord  Stirling's  division  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Hunter. 

On  the  signal  at  half-after  eleven,  the  whole  army  re 
paired  to  their  alarm-posts;  on  which  General  Washing 
ton,  accompanied  by  the  general  officers,  reviewed  the 
whole  army  at  their  respective  posts;  and  after  the  firing 
of  the  cannon  and  musketry,  and  the  huzzas  were  given 
agreeably  to  the  orders,  the  army  returned  to  their  re 
spective  brigade  parades,  and  were  dismissed. 

All  the  officers  of  the  army  then  assembled,  and  partook 
of  a  collation  provided  by  the  general,  at  which  several 
patriotic  toasts  were  given,  accompanied  with  three  cheers. 
His  excellency  took  leave  of  the  officers  at  five  o'clock, 
on  which  there  was  universal  huzzaing — Long  live  General 
Washington! — and  clapping  of  hands  till  the  general  rode 
some  distance.  The  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri 
vates  followed  the  example  of  their  officers  as  the  general 
passed  their  brigades.  Approbation  indeed  was  conspicu 
ous  in  every  countenance,  and  universal  joy  reigned 
throughout  the  camp. 

My  friend,  Major  Minnis,  from  head-quarters  at  Valley 
Forge,  has  detailed  to  me  the  particular  circumstances  of 
the  distress  and  privations  which  our  army  suffered,  while 
in  winter-quarters  at  that  place,  the  last  winter.  In  the 
month  of  December,  the  troops  were  employed  in  erecting 
log  huts  for  winter-quarters,  when  about  one-half  of  the 
men  were  destitute  of  small-clothes,  shoes,  and  stockings; 
some  thousands  were  without  blankets,  and  were  obliged 
to  warm  themselves  over  fires  all  night,  after  the  fatigues 
of  the  day,  instead  of  reposing  in  comfortable  lodgings. 
At  one  time  nearly  three  thousand  men  were  returned 
unfit  for  duty,  from  the  want  of  clothing,  and  it  was  not 
uncommon  to  track  the  march  of  the  men  over  ice  and 
frozen  ground,  by  the  blood  from  their  naked  feet.  Sev- 


128  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1778. 

eral  times  during  the  winter,  they  experienced  little  less 
than  a  famine  in  camp;  and  more  than  once  our  general 
officers  were  alarmed  by  the  fear  of  a  total  dissolution  of 
the  army  from  the  want  of  provisions.  For  two  or  three 
weeks  in  succession,  the  men  were  on  half-allowance,  and 
for  four  or  five  days  without  bread,  and  again  as  many 
without  beef  or  pork.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that 
men  enough  could  be  found-in  a  condition  fit  to  discharge 
the  military  camp  duties  from  day  to  day,  and  for  this 

Eurpose  those  who  were  naked,  borrowed  from  those  who 
ad  clothes.  It  cannot  be  deemed  strange  that  sickness 
and  mortality  were  the  consequence  of  such  privations,  in 
the  midst  of  an  inclement  season.  Under  these  unexam 
pled  sufferings,  the  soldiers  exercised  a  degree  of  patience 
and  fortitude,  which  reflects  on  them  the  highest  honor, 
and  which  ought  ever  to  entitle  them  to  the  gratitude  of 
their  country.  The  army  indeed  was  not  without  conso 
lation,  for  his  excellency  the  commander-in-chief,  whom 
every  soldier  venerates  and  loves,  manifested  a  fatherly 
concern  and  fellow-feeling  for  their  sufferings,  and  made 
every  exertion  in  his  power  to  remedy  the  evil,  and  to 
administer  the  much-desired  relief.  Being  authorized  by 
Congress,  he  reluctantly  resorted  to  the  unpopular  expe 
dient  of  taking  provisions  from  the  inhabitants  by  force, 
and  thus  procured  a  small  supply  for  immediate  necessity.* 
This  was  the  unhappy  condition  of  that  army,  on  whom 
General  Washington  had  to  rely  for  the  defence  of  every 
thing  held  most  dear  by  Americans,  and  this,  too,  while 
situated  within  sixteen  miles  of  a  powerful  adversary,  with 
a  greatly  superior  army  of  veterans,  watching  with  a  vigil 
ant  eye  for  an  opportunity  to  effect  its  destruction.  But 
a  fact  which  excites  the  greatest  indignation  and  astonish- 

*  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  a  foreign  officer  of  distinction  said  to 
a  friend  of  mine,  that  he  despaired  of  our  Independence,  for  while  walk 
ing  with  General  Washington,  along  the  soldiers'  huts,  he  heard  from 
many  voices  echoing  through  the  open  crevices  between  the  logs,  "No 
pay,  no  clothes,  no  provisions,  no  rum"  and  when  a  miserable  being  was 
seen  flitting  from  one  hut  to  another,  his  nakednesss  was  only  covered 
by  a  dirty  blanket.  It  will  be  difficult  to  form  a  just  conception  of  tho 
emotions  of  grief  and  sorrow  which  must  have  harrowed  up  the  soul 
of  our  illustrious  patriot  and  philanthropist.  In  this  darkening  hour  of 
adversity,  any  man  who  possesses  less  firmness  than  Washington,  would 
despair  of  our  Independence. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1778. 

ment  is,  that,  at  the  critical  period  above  mentioned,  a 
party  in  Congress,  in  concert  with  General  Conway,  was 
endeavoring  to  remove  General  Washington  from  the 
supreme  command.  If  the  American  army  is  to  be  anni 
hilated,  and  the  cause  of  our  country  sacrificed  to  gratify 
individual  ambition,  then  is  there  a  faction  ripe  for  the 
execution  of  the  object.  No  man,  perhaps,  ever  had  a 
greater  combination  of  vexatious  evils  and  uncontrollable 
obstacles  to  encounter,  than  this  incomparable  patriot  and 
warrior;  and  no  one  surely  ever  possessed  in  a  more  emi 
nent  degree  the  peculiar  talents  and  qualities  requisite 
for  the  discharge  of  the  important  duties  assigned  him  in 
his  elevated  station.  He  has  acquired  the  full  confidence 
of  every  faithful  officer  and  soldier  under  his  command, 
and  his  wisdom  and  judgment  are  considered  adequate  to 
the  most  trying  exigencies.  He  rises  in  the  midst  of  dis 
tress,  and  gains  strength  by  misfortunes.  The  Assembly 
of  Pennsj^lvania,  and  a  certain  party  in  our  Congress,  en 
tertain  an  idea  that  the  royal  army  was  permitted  to  take 
possession  of  Philadelphia  by  the  timidity,  or  by  the  ex 
cessive  caution,  of  our  commander-in-chief.  It  is  well 
known,  that  from  necessity  he  has  evinced  himself  more 
the  disciple  of  Fabius  Maximus,  than  of  Marcellus.  He 
temporizes,  and  acts  on  the  defensive,  when  a  superior 
force  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  his  army  compel 
him  to  adopt  such  conduct.  But  no  one  will  deny  that 
he  has  displayed  the  greatest  courage  in  opposing  danger, 
and  the  greatest  presence  of  mind  in  retreating  from  it. 
He  has  perplexed  the  enemy  by  his  judicious  manoeuvres, 
and  braved  him  frequently  in  his  camp;  and  it  is  by  his 
superior  generalship,  and  the  unfailing  resources  of  his 
mind,  that  the  enemy  was  not  sooner  in  possession  of 
Philadelphia,  and  that  our  feeble,  half-starved,  naked  army, 
has  not  been  entirely  destroyed.  The  candidates  who 
have  been  named  to  supersede  his  excellency  in  the  su 
preme  command,  are  Generals  Lee,  Mifflin,  Gates  and 
Conway.  Lee  has  many  advocates  in  his  favor.  Mifflin 
has  no  claim,  and  it  is  believed  no  desire,  to  be  elevated 
to  this  highly  responsible  station.  The  splendid  achieve 
ment  of  General  Gates  at  Saratoga  is  auspicious  to  his 
preferment,  but  even  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  served 
under  him  in  the  northern  army,  would  not  willingly 


130  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

yield  their  attachment  to  their  beloved  Washington,  in 
whose  wisdom  and  judgment  they  repose  such  unbounded 
confidence.  It  is  most  unfortunate  that  Congress  appears 
to  be  split  into  factions  at  this  eventful  period,  when  the 
salvation  of  our  country  depends  on  the  harmony  and 
unanimity  in  our  councils.  A  strong  party  exists  in  this 
body,  who  are  exerting  every  nerve  to  effect  their  favorite 
scheme  of  elevating  General  Gates  to  the  supreme  com 
mand.  This  gentleman  is  made  the  object  of  their  applause 
and  caresses,  though  he  has  been  deficient  in  duty  and 
respect  in  his  official  station,  in  not  communicating  to  the 
commander-in-chief  the  important  intelligence  of  the  cap 
ture  of  General  Burgoyne  and  his  army.  General  Conway, 
a  French  gentleman,  has  been  appointed  by  Congress  in 
spector-general,  with  the  rank  of  major-general,  over  a 
number  of  brigadiers -of  regular  standing,  and  this,  even 
when  it  was  notorious  that  he  was  inimical  to  the  com 
mander-in-chief,  and  the  author  of  letters  in  which  his 
excellency's  character  is  basely  aspersed  and  calumniated. 
These  unhappy  dissensions  and  jealousies  occcasion  the 
greatest  solicitude  in  our  army,  and  consequences  of  a  fatal 
tendency  are  seriously  apprehended.  The  brigadiers  and 
a  number  of  colonels  have  remonstrated  in  strong  terms 
to  Congress  respecting  the  preferment  of  General  Conway. 
The  machinations  of  this  insolent  foreigner  have  at  length 
recoiled  on  his  own  head.  Having,  by  his  vile  intrigue 
and  insufferable  effrontery,  rendered  himself  an  object  of 
disgust  in  his  station,  he  has  been  induced  to  resign  his 
commission,  and  has  withdrawn  himself  from  the  army.* 
On  this  serious  occasion,  the  character  of  Washington  was 
found  unassailable,  and  it  shines  with  redoubled  lustre. 
His  excellency  displays  a  noble  magnanimity  in  overlook 
ing  a  want  of  confidence  in  his  skill  and  judgment  in  his 
profession.  Envy  and  malice  are  ever  attendant  on  exalted 
station  and  superior  merit. 

*  General  Conway,  after  his  resignation,  was  challenged  by  General 
Cadwailader,  for  his  conduct,  and  in  the  combat  he  received  a  wound 
which  he  supposed  to  be  a  mortal  one;  and  conceiving  death  to  be  near 
at  hand,  he  conducted  honorably  in  addressing  to  General  Washington 
a  letter  of  apology.  Further  particulars  relative  to  this  unpleasant  busi 
ness  may  be  found  in  the  characters  of  Lee,  Gates  and  Conway,  in  the 
Appendix. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 


131 


May  16th. — In  various  parts  of  this  state  the  inhabitants 
are  constantly  infested  with  a  banditti  of  tories  and  other 
villains,  following  the  practice  of  robbing  and  plundering, 
stealing  horses  and  cattle,  and  often  committing  murder 
on  those  who  oppose  them ;  and  even  on  innocent  persons. 
A  number  of  these  vile  wretches  have  been  apprehended 
and  condemned;  two  of  them  were  executed  yesterday. 
They  had  been  convicted  of  robbing  the  house  of  Mr. 
Van  Ness,  whose -son,  being  a  captain  in  our  militia,  was 
taken  by  them  and  cruelly  murdered.  The  criminals  were 
conducted  to  the  gallows  by  a  guard  of  soldiers,  and  were 
attended  by  a  prodigious  number  of  spectators.  They 
manifested,  at  the  gallows,  the  most  agonizing  horrors. 
One  of  them  held  in  his  hand  a  Bible  till  the  halter  de 
prived  him  of  the  power  of  holding  it.  Had  this  sacred 
volume  been  his  companion  in  early  life,  it  might  have 
been  the  means  of  averting  this  awful  and  untimely  death. 

20#i. — I  attended  the  judicial  court  at  the  City  Hall  for 
the  trial  of  a  number  qf  criminals  accused  of  house  rob 
bery,  horse  stealing,  and  murder,  among  the  defenceless 
inhabitants  on  our  frontiers.  No  less  than  ten  of  these 
miscreants  were  arraigned  at  the  bar.  The  jury  brought 
in  a  verdict  of  guilty  against  the  whole  number.  Judge 
John  Jay,  who  officiated  on  the  bench,  pronounced  the 
awful  sentence  of  death,  and  addressed  them  in  a  very 
solemn  and  affecting  manner,  calculated  to  rouse  them  to 
a  sense  of  their  dreadful  condition,  and  in  a  moving  and 
pathetic  strain,  enjoined  it  on  them  to  prepare  to  meet 
their  God.  This  scene  was  rendered  the  more  melancholy, 
by  observing  among  the  criminals  a  grey-headed  man  of 
seventy  years,  and  his  son  about  twenty.  The  criminality 
of  the  son  admits  of  some  extenuation  from  his  ignorance 
and  the  example  of  his  father.  The  youth  was  afterwards 
pardoned ;  but  the  old  man,  with  several  others,  expiated 
their  crimes  by  a  public  execution  on  the  gallows. 

In  the  town  of  Schoharie,  about  thirty  miles  from  this 
city,  a  company  of  our  troops,  under  the  command  of  Cap 
tain  Patrick,  has  been  for  some  time  stationed  for  the  pur 
pose  of  guarding  the  inhabitants  against  the  incursions 
and  cruel  ravages  of  the  Indians  and  tories.  We  have 
just  received  the  melancholy  intelligence,  that  about  two 
hundred  Indians  and  their  tory  allies,  fell  on  our  party  by 


132  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

surprise,  killed  the  captain  and  all  but  fifteen  men,  and 
most  of  the  inhabitants  shared  the  same  miserable  fate. 
The  bodies  were  cut  and  mangled  in  a  savage  manner, 
and  some  of  them  were  scalped. 

June  1st. — Orders  have  been  greceived  for  the  removal 
of  our  hospital  from  this  city  TO  the  highlands,  on  the 
Hudson  river,  where  our  whole  army,  it  is  said,  is  about 
to  assemble.  During  my  residence  in  this  city,  I  have 
contracted  but  a  limited  acquaintance  with  the  inhabitants. 
They  are  chiefly  Low  Dutch,  and  not  much  inclined  to 
associate  with  strangers.  There  are,  however,  several 
families  of  respectability  and  fashion,  who  have  taken 
refuge  here  from  New  York,  among  whom  are  some  ami 
able  and  accomplished  ladies,  in  whose  society  I  have  been 
permitted  to  enjoy  a  social  intercourse.  The  charming 
Miss  M.  H.  has  captivated  the  heart,  and  is  destined  to 
receive  the  hand  of  my  excellent  friend  Dr.  W.  P.  S.,  an 
auspicious  union  of  congenial  souls.  But  in  military  life 
our  associates  must  be  chiefly  those  of  a  military  character. 
In  a  society  of  about  thirty  professional  gentlemen,  har 
monizing  in  similar  pursuits  and  inclinations,  our  sympa- 
'thies  and  mutual  pleasures  are  mingled,  and  raised  to  a 
state  of  the  purest  enjoyment.  We  are  now  to  be  sepa 
rated,  and  subjected  to  vicissitudes  and  incidents  beyond 
our  calculation.  Three  of  our  number  are  to  continue 
with  the  sick  in  this  place,  and  the  remainder  are  destined 
to  a  new  situation. 

6th. — We  embarked  with  our  hospital  stores  and  bag 
gage  on  board  of  a  sloop,  and  proceeded  with  a  fair  wind 
down  the  Hudson.  In  the  evening  we  landed  at  Kinder- 
hook,  a  small  town  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

7th. — Arrived  at  Fishkill,  where  we  replenished  our 
stock  of  provisions. 

lOi/;. — Proceeded  on  our  voyage,  took  in  a  pilot  at  New 
Windsor,  lodged  on  board,  and  on  the  llth  reached  the 
place  of  our  destination,  landed  our  stores  and  baggage, 
and  took  possession  of  the  house  which  we  are  to  occupy 
for  a  hospital.  This  house  was  erected  by  Colonel  Beverly 
Robinson,  a  respectable  gentleman  from  Scotland,  for  his 
summer  residence,  but  being  induced  to  adhere  to  the 
British  interest,  he  has,  with  his  excellent  family,  removed 
to  New  York,  and  thereby  forfeited  his  large  estate.  This 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1778.  3  33 

is  a  spacious  and  very  convenient  building,  situated  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Hudson,  about  two  miles  from  West 
Point,  which  is  on  the  opposite  shore.  Eobinson's  house, 
with  the  out-buildings,  is  found  very  convenient  for  a 
hospital ;  the  farm  and  gardens  are  very  extensive,  afford 
ing  excellent  pasturing  for  horses  and  cows,  and  contain 
ing  three  or  four  large  orchards,  abounding  in  fruit  of 
various  descriptions.  In  the  location  of  a  country-seat, 
the  judgment  of  Colonel  Robinson  is  not  much  to  be  ad 
mired,  unless  he  was  guided  altogether  by  a  taste  for 
romantic  singularity  and  novelty.  It  is  surrounded  on 
two  sides  by  hideous  mountains  and  dreary  forests,  not  a 
house  in  view,  and  but  one  within  a  mile.  The  Hudson, 
which  washes  the  borders  of  this  farm,  affords  a  facility 
of  communication  with  New  York  and  with  Albany ;  and 
the  excursion  up  or  down  the  river  is  truly  romantic; 
nature  exhibits  a  diversified  scenery  of  wild  mountains, 
craggy  precipices,  and  noble  lofty  cliffs,  on  each  side  the 
river,  which  at  this  place  is  about  one  mile  wide.  The 
bank  on  the  west  side  is  formed  by  a  large  mountain 
called  Butterhill,  and  that  on  the  east  by  another  named 
Brecknock.  At  a  small  distance  south  of  Robinson's  is 
a  remarkable  bluff,  whose  rocky  cliffs  ascend  almost  per 
pendicularly  from  the  water's  edge  to  the  height  of  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  feet.  This,  from  its  singular 
form  and  appearance,  is  known  by  the  name  of  Anthony's 
Nose.  Not  far  from  Robinson's  house  is  Sugar-loaf  moun 
tain,  covered  with  various  kinds  of  forest  trees. 

12^/1. — A  little  party,  consisting  of  three  gentlemen  of 
the  hospital  and  myself,  resolved  on  the  attempt  to  ascend 
to  the  summit  of  Sugar-loaf  mountain,  which  from  its  rude 
acclivity  is  deemed  almost  inaccessible.  It  was  with  great 
difficulty  and  fatigue  that  we  effected  our  purpose,  holding 
by  the  limbs  and  bushes,  while  the  decayed  wood  and 
loose  stones,  sliding  from,  under  our  feet,  kept  us  in  con 
tinual  fear  of  a  fatal  fall.  Having  reached  the  summit, 
we  contemplated  with  amazement  the  sublime  scene  which 
opened  to  our  view.  Looking  down  as  from  a  cloud,  we 
beheld  the  Hudson,  resembling  a  vast  canal  cut  through 
mountains  of  stupendous  magnitude;  a  few  boats  playing 
on  its  surface  were  scarcely  visible.  But  to  the  pen  of 
the  poet,  and  the  pencil  of  the  painter,  be  consigned  the 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1778. 

task  of  describing  the  wonders  of  nature  there  exhibited 
in  the  form  of  huge  mountains,  rocky  cliffs,  and  venerable 
forests,. in  one  confused  mass.  From  this  summit,  too,  we 
have  a  most  interesting  view  of  the  fortress  and  garrison 
of  West  Point.  Fort  Putnam,  on  its  most  elevated  part, 
the  several  redoubts  beneath,  and  the  barracks  on  the 
plain  below,  with  numerous  armed  soldiers  inactive  mo 
tion,  all  defended  by  the  most  formidable  machinery  of 
war,  combine  to  form  a  picturesque  scenery  of  peculiar 
interest,  which  can  be  heightened  only  when  from  the 
cannon's  mouth,  issue  fire  and  smoke,  and  the  earth  trem 
bles  with  its  roar  and  thunder.  While  musing  on  the 
rich  scenery,  we  observed  a  number  of  large  rocks,  which 
seemed  to  have  but  a  slender  hold  at  their  basis,  we  con 
ceived  that  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  undermine  and 
precipitate  them  down  the  steep  precipice.  Having  a 
consultation  to  decide  on  the  most  eligible  mode  of  effect 
ing  our  purpose,  we  resolutely  commenced  the  laborious 
enterprise;  destitute  of  every  kind  of  utensil,  we  pro 
cured  each  one  a  limb  of  a  sapling,  with  which,  we  bur 
rowed  away  the  earth,  and  soon  perceived  the  happy 
effects  of  our  industry;  the  rock  began  to  totter.  Among 
other  curiosities,  we  viewed  the  path  made  by  the  descent 
of  Putnam's  rock.  Colonel  Kufus  Putnam  ascended  this 
mountain  with  forty  men,  who  were,  for  amusement,  em 
ployed  about  two  days  in  precipitating  from  its  summit  a 
rock  of  many  tons  weight  into  the  river.  Such  was  the 
force  of  this  ponderous  body,  that  in  its  passage  it  cut 
down  trees  of  a  large  size,  and  nothing  could  impede  its 
course  till  it  fell  with  a  tremendous  crash  into  the  river. 
The  rock  was  of  such  size,  that  a  part  of  it  remained 
above  water,  and  Colonel  Putnam,  standing  on  its  top, 
holding  in  his  hand  a  bottle  of  spirits,  gave  to  it  the  name 
of  Putnam1  s  Rock. 

July  2d. — By  Dr.  Brown,  surgeon-general,  just  arrived 
from  Philadelphia,  we  are  favored  with  the  intelligence 
that  commissioners  have  arrived  from  the  British  govern 
ment  with  new  proposals  for  the  purpose  of  a  reconcil 
iation  between  the  two  countries.  It  appears  that  in 
consequence  of  the  capture  of  General  Burgoyne  and  his 
army,  the  Parliament  had  manifested  great  mortification 
and  alarm,  and  have  been  induced  to  pass  some  acts,  with 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778.  135 

a  view  of  reconciliation,  more  consistent  with  the  just 
claims  of  America  than  those  formerly  declared.  The 
royal  commissioners  have  presented  to  our  Congress  their 
proposals  for  a  mutual  adjustment  of  existing  difficulties, 
couched  in  such  plausible,  and  apparently  conciliatory 
language,  as  to  excite  serious  apprehensions  that  it  may 
occasion  considerable  disaffection  among  the  people,  if 
not  division  in  our  public  councils.  Fears  are  entertained 
by  many,  in  and  out  of  Congress,  that  the  expedient  now 
adopted  by  Parliament  .may  be  productive  of  the  conse 
quences  which  the  authors  probably  intended,  that  of 
relaxation  and  delay  in  our  military  preparations.  There 
is,  however,  a  very  important  and  radical  defect  in  the 
terms  proposed  by  the  commissioners:  they  are  not  author 
ized  to  treat  with  Congress  on  the  principles  of  independ 
ency,  but  still  adhere  to  the  idea  of  a  reunion  of  the  states, 
as  colonies,  under  the  government  of  Great  Britain.  Firm 
in  their  determination  never  to  relinquish  this  fundamental 
principle,  the  Congress  unanimously  rejected  the  proffered 
conditions,  and  it  is  morally  certain  that  no  terms  short 
of  an  explicit  acknowledgment  of  our  Independence,  will 
ever  be  accepted.  A  very  animated  address  has  been 
published  by  Congress  to  their  constituents,  respecting  the 
terms  proposed  by  the  commissioners,  in  whi^h  they  ob 
serve,  that  "the  haughty  prince  who  spurned  us  from  his 
feet  with  contumely  and  disdain,  and  the  Parliament  who 
proscribed  us,  now  descend  to  offer  terms  of  accommoda 
tion.  While  in  the  full  career  of  victory,  they  pulled  off 
the  mask,  and  avowed  despotism.  But  having  lavished 
in  vain  the  blood  and  treasure  of  their  subjects,  in  pursuit 
of  this  execrable  purpose,  they  now  endeavor  to  ensnare 
us  with  the  insidious  offers  of  peace.  They  would  seduce 
us  into  a  dependence,  which  necessarily  and  inevitably  leads 
to  the  most  humiliating  slavery.  And  do  they  believe 
you  will  accept  these  fatal  terms  because  you  have  suffered 
the  distresses  of  war?  Do  they  suppose  that  you  will 
basely  lick  the  dust  before  the  feet  of  your  destroyers? 
Can  there  be  a  man  so  lost  to  the  feelings  that  adorn 
human  nature,  to  the  generous  pride,  the  elevation,  the 
dignity  of  freedom  ?  Is  there  a  man  who  would  not  abhor 
a  dependence  on  those  who  have  deluged  his  country  in 
the  blood  of  its  inhabitants?  We  cannot  suppose  this, 


136  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

neither  can  we  suppose  that  they  themselves  expect  to 
make  many  converts.  What  then  is  their  intention?  Is 
it  not  to  lull  you  with  the  fallacious  hopes  of  peace,  till 
they  can  assemble  new  armies  to  prosecute  their  nefarious 
designs?  If  this  is  not  the  case,  why  do  they  meanly 
court  each  little  tyrant  of  Europe  to  sell  them  his  unhappy 
slaves?  Why  do  they  continue  to  embitter  the  minds  of 
the  savages  against  you?  Surely,  this  is  not  the  way  to 
conciliate  the  affections  of  America.  Be  not  deceived." 
The  address  then  proceeds  to  encourage  the  people  with 
the  fairest  prospect  of  success  in  the  full  establishment  of 
their  liberty  and  independence.  The  most  powerful  incen 
tives  to  perseverance  and  Exertion  are  held  forth  as  the 
means  of  vanquishing  the  foes  of  our  country.  "Above 
all,  bring  forward  your  armies  into  the  fiel$.  Trust  not 
to  appearances  of  peace  or  safety.  Be  assured  that,  unless 
you  persevere,  you  will  be  exposed  to  every  species  of 
barbarity ;  but  if  you  exert  the  means  of  defence  which 
God  and  nature  have  given  you,  the  time  will  soon  arrive 
when  every  man  shall  sit  under  his  own  vine  and  under  his 
own  fig-tree,  and  there  shall  be  none  to  make  him  afraid." 
3d. — A  great  degree  of  dissatisfaction  has  prevailed  for 
some  time  among  the  officers  of  our  army.  At  the  com 
mencement,  of  the  war,  a  considerable  proportion  of  our 
officers,  it  is  presumed,  engaged  in  the  service  from  the 
purest  motives  of  patriotism ;  some  doubtless  were  actuated 
by  pecuniary  views,  or  influenced  by  the  novelty  of  the 
employment,  and  with  the  expectation  that  the  contest 
would  be  of  short  continuance.  These  incentives  appear 
in  a  great  measure  to  have  vanished.  The  active  spirit 
of  patriotism  is  not  to  be  considered  as  inexhaustible; 
when  it  has  made  the  most  liberal  personal  sacrifice,  it  is 
disposed  to  languish,  and  to  resign  its  duties  to  others  who 
hold  an  equal  stake  in  the  public  weal.  The  military 
commission,  which  in  other  armies  is  eagerly  sought  for, 
and  prized,  as  entitling  the  bearer  to  the  post  of  honor 
and  profit,  is  in  ours  held  in  little  estimation,  and  in  some 
instances  it  is  scarcely  considered  as  reputable.  The  paper 
money  in  which  our  army  is  paid,  has  greatly  depreciated, 
and  an  officer  can  with  difficulty  realize  an  adequate  sup 
port  while  in  camp,  and  those  who  have  families  depend 
ent  on  them,  are  reduced  to  the  greatest  embarrassments. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1778. 

Many  officers,  when  commissioned,  relinquished  lucrative 
professions  or  employments,  and  are  devoting  the  most 
precious  portion  of  life  to  the  service  of  their  country. 
When  we  contemplate  the  destitute  condition  which  may 
be  his  lot  at  the  close  of  the  war,  or  the  wretched  circum 
stances  in  which  he  may  be  called  to  leave  his  family  in 
case  he  should  not  survive  this  period,  no  one  can  be 
surprised  that  he  is  dissatisfied  in  his  present  situation, 
and  that  he  claims  from  the  public  a  more  ample  remu 
neration.  These  considerations  will  account  for  the  nu 
merous  resignations  which  have  taken  place,  and  which 
has  occasioned  the  commander-in-chief  much  anxiety  and 
concern.  Apprehending  that  he  should  be  deprived  of 
the  services  of  many  meritorious  officers,  his  Excellency 
General  Washington  made  a  feeling  representation  to 
Congress  relative  to  the  subject.  A  committee  of  that 
honorable  body  has  been  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
general,  and  in  concert  with  him  to  make  and  recommend 
such  new  arrangements  as  should  appear  eligible.  His 
excellency  strongly  recommended  a  half-pay  establish 
ment,  which  he  conceived  was  indispensably  necessary,  to 
induce  the  officers  to  continue  in  the  service,  and  cheer 
fully  discharge  their  respective  duties;  as  many  have 
already  resigned,  and  application  for  it  is  frequently  made 
by  others.  Besides  adopting  some  method  to  make  the 
provision  to  officers  equal  to  their  present  exigencies,  a 
due  regard  should  be  paid  to  futurity.  "Nothing,  in  my 
opinion,"  says  his  excellency,  "would  serve  more  power 
fully  to  reanimate  their  languishing  zeal,  and  interest  them 
thoroughly  in  the  service,  than  a  half-pay  establishment." 
This  conference  and  representation  produced  the  desired 
effect.  Congress,  being  convinced  of  the  propriety  and 
necessity  of  making  further  provision  for  the -encourage 
ment  of  their  army,  resolved,  unanimously,  that  all  mili 
tary  officers,  commissioned  by  Congress,  who  now  are, 
or  hereafter  may  be,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
and  shall  continue  therein  during  the  war,  shall,  after  the 
conclusion  of  it,  be  entitled  to  receive  annually  for  the 
term  of  seven  years,  if  they  live  so  long,  one-half  of  the 
present  pay  of  such  officers.  They  further  resolved,  unan 
imously,  that  every  non-commissioned  military  officer  or 
soldier  who  has  enlisted  or  shall  enlist  in  the  service  of 


138  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1778. 

these  states  during  the  war,  and  shall  continue  therein  to 
the  end  thereof,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  further  re 
ward  of  eighty  dollars  at  the  expiration  of  the  war. 

4th. — Infelligence  has  reached  us  that  the  royal  army, 
under  the  command  of  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  has 
evacuated  Philadelphia,  and  while  marching  through  Jer 
sey  to  New  York,  General  Washington  attacked  them 
near  Mon mouth  court-house,  on  the  28th  of  June,  and  a 
warm  engagement  ensued.  This  contest  was  conducted 
with  military  ardor  and  spirit  on  the  side  of  both  armies; 
but  was  not  on  so  broad  a  scale  as  to  prove  very  decisive 
in  its  consequences.  The  intense  heat  of  the  weather, 
great  fatigue,  and  drinking  cold  water,  proved  fatal  to  about 
sixty  or  eighty  men  of  each  party. 

Molly  Pitcher,  wife  of  one  of  the  officers,  was  engaged 
in  bringing  water  from  a  spring  for  the  men  at  the  guns, 
when  she  saw  her  husband  struck  down,  and  instantly 
killed ; — at  the  same  time  she  heard  the  commandant 
order  his  piece  to  be  withdrawn  as  he  had  no  one  to  fill 
his  place. 

Maddened  at  her  loss,  Molly  rushed  forward,  and  with 
great  activity  and  courage,  continued  to  work  the  gun 
until  it  was  withdrawn.  This  so  strongly  enlisted 
the  feelings  of  the  soldiers,  that  they  obtained  for 
her  an  interview  with  Washington,  and  her  enroll 
ment  on  the  list  of  half-pay  officers,  for  life.  She  was 
ever  afterward  called  Capt.  Molly.  General  Washing 
ton  commanded  in  person  on  this  memorable  day.  He 
was  exposed  to  every  danger  while  encouraging  and  ani 
mating  his  troops,  and  his  presence  and  example  were  of 
the  utmost  importance  during  the  day.  After  the  action, 
at  night,  he  laid  down  in  his  cloak  under  a  tree,  with  the 
expectation  of  recommencing  the  battle  in  the  morning, 
but  the  royal  army  silently  retreated  during  the  night 
without  being  pursued. 

One  unfortunate  circumstance  occurred  on  this  occasion, 
which  created  considerable  embarrassment,  and  deranged 
the  plan  of  operations.  Major-General  Lee, was  ordered, 
by  the  commander-in-chief,  to  advance  and  attack  the 
enemy's  rear,  so  soon  as  a  proper  opportunity  should  offer. 
Having  approached  very  near,  instead  of  engaging,  he 
suffered  his  troops  to  retreat  in  some  confusion.  On  learn- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

ing  this,  his  excellency  was  exceedingly  mortified  and 
astonished.  Coming  up  to  General  Lee,  and  meeting  part 
of  his  corps  in  their  flight,  he  with  some  warmth  inquired 
the  cause  of  his  retreat,  and  addressed  General  Lee  in 
language  which  implied  censure.  The  high-spirited  Lee 
could  not  brook  the  slightest  appearance  of  disapprobation, 
and  replied  with  an  air  of  disrespect.  He,  however,  re 
quested  of  his  excellency  fresh  orders  for  the  conduct  of 
his  corps,  and  these  he  promptly  obeyed,  and  discovered 
no  want  of  bravery  in  the  field.  But,  unable  to  quell  the 
rankling  of  a  turbulent  temper,  he  addressed,  after  the 
battle,  two  letters  to  the  commander-in-chief,  containing 
improper  and  disrespectful  expressions.  As  if  in  defiance 
of  superior  authority,  he  demanded  a  trial  by  a  court- 
martial,  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity  of  vindicating 
his  conduct,  in  consequence  of  which  his  excellency  has 
put  him  under  arrest  to  await  his  trial. 

5th. — Congress  have  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  General 
Washington  and  his  army  for  their  brave  conduct  at  the 
battle  of  Mon mouth. 

8th. — I  accompanied  Dr.  "Woodruff  to  Fishkill  village, 
about  fourteen  miles.  Dined  at  the  hospital  with  our  old 
friends  Drs.  Adams  and  Eustis.  They  are  pleasantly  sit 
uated  in  a  secure  retreat  for  the  accommodation  of  our 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers. 

It  is  expected  the  French  government  will  lend  us  their 
assistance  and  cooperation  against  our  English  adversa 
ries.  It  is  asserted  that  a  powerful  French  fleet  will  soon 
arrive  on  our  coast. 

16th. — His  excellency  the  commander-in-chief  visited 
West  Point,  to  take  a  view  of  the  works  which  are  con 
structing  there.  His  arrival  was  announced  by  the  dis 
charge  of  thirteen  cannon,  the  number  of  the  United  States. 

20th. — Having  a  number  of  sheep  running  at  large  in 
the  woods  belonging  to  our  hospital,  and  being  in  want 
of  mutton,  I  was  induced  to  assist  the  slaughterers  with 
my  gun  against  these  harmless  animals.  In  pursuit  of 
this  game,  I  devoted  most  of  the  day,  and  a  single  sheep 
only  was  the  reward  of  my  labor  and  fatigue.  On  my 
return,  I  was  accused  of  want  of  skill  as  a  marksman,  and 
Dr.  Prescott  challenged  me  to  decide  our  superiority  by 
firing  at  a  mark;  the  challenge  accepted,  we  placed  an 
10 


140  MILITARY  JOURNAL.  1778. 

object  at  the  end  of  our  garden.  After  the  third  fire,  we 
were  checked  by  an  unpleasant  incident.  Several  horses 
were  grazing  in  a  field  directly  in  our  range,  and  one  of 
them,  a  valuable  animal,  received  a  ball  through  his  body. 
The  wound  on  examination  was  found  to  be  fatal,  the  skill 
of  the  surgeon  could  avail  nothing,  and,  to  add  to  our 
chagrin,  we  were  informed  that  the  animal  was  the  prop 
erty  of  Brigadier-General  Glover,  and  was  by  him  highly 
prized.  We  soon  received  a  billet  from  the  general,  and 
on  waiting  on  him  at  West  Point,  to  adjust  the  terms  of 
settlement,  he  demanded  the  cost  of  the  horse,  which  was 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Justice  and  honor  required 
that  we  should  promptly  comply  with  his  demand.  A 
soldier  who  had  the  charge  of  the  horses  informed  us  that 
one  of  the  balls  struck  the  ground  within  a  yard  of  his 
feet;  had  the  poor  fellow  been  the  victim,  the  catastrophe 
would  have  been  much  more  melancholy;  but  the  event 
is  sufficiently  unfortunate  to  deter  us  from  again  sporting 
with  our  guns  at  random  shot. 

27th. — Colonel  Malcome,  from  West  Point,  with  his 
much-admired  lady,  and  several  other  officers,  favored  us 
with  their  company  to  dine;  we  .treated  our  polite  guests 
with  all  the  civilities  and  all  the  comforts  in  our  power, 
and  the  cheering  glass  was  not  removed  till  evening, 
when  we  accompanied  them  to  the  river  side,  and  finished 
two  bottles  of  port  on  board  their  barge. 

28th. — Agreeably  to  invitation,  the  gentlemen  of  our 
hospital  returned  the  visit  to  Colonel  Malcome,  at  West 
Point,  and  were  entertained  in  the  most  genteel  manner. 

The  public  mind  is  now  in  a  state  of  excitement,  occa 
sioned  by  the  improper  proceedings  of  the  royal  commis 
sioners  for  restoring  peace.  They  have  made  a  second 
communication  to  Congress,  but  still  without  any  intima 
tion  of  a  recognition  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States;  but  address  them  on  the  supposition  that  the 
people  of  America  are  still  the  subjects  of  the  crown  of 
Britain.  This  last  communication  is  drafted  with  much 
art  and  address,  calculated  to  excite  jealousies  and  division 
among  the  people.  Not  content  with  their  public  declara 
tions,  and  proposals  addressed  to  Congress,  they  have 
actually  descended  to  the  dishonorable  act  of  insidious 
oilers  to  corrupt  some  distinguished  individuals.  Governor 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

Johnstone,  one  of  the  commissioners,  with  inexcusable 
effrontery,  offered  a  bribe  to  Mr.  Reed,  a  member  of  Con 
gress.  In  an  interview  with  Mrs.  Ferguson  at  Philadel 
phia,  whose  husband  is  a  royalist,  he  desired  she  would 
mention  to  Mr.  Reed  that  if  he  would  engage  his  interest 
to  promote  the  object  of  their  commission,  he  might  have 
any  office  in  the  colonies,  in  the  gift  of  his  Britannic  majesty, 
and  ten  thousand  pounds  in  hand.  Having  solicited  an 
interview  with  Mr.  Reed,  Mrs.  Ferguson  made  her  com 
munication.  Spurning  the  idea  of  being  purchased,  he 
replied,  "that  he  was  not  worth  purchasing,  but  such  as  he 
was,  the  king  of  Great  Britain  was  not  rich  enough  to  do 
it."  Congress  declined  all  further  intercourse  with  the 
commissioners,  and  terminated  their  attempts  at  negotia 
tion,  unless  their  royal  master  would  first  withdraw  his 
fleets  and  armies,  or  expressly  acknowledge  the  independ 
ence  of  the  United  States.  In  order  to  demonstrate  their 
most  pointed  indignation  against  such  daring  attempts  to 
corrupt  their  integrity,  they  resolved  that  it  was  incom 
patible  with  their  honor  to  hold  any  further  intercourse 
with  George  Johnstone,  Esquire,  more  especially  to  nego 
tiate  with  him  on  affairs  in  which  the  cause  of  liberty  and 
virtue  are  interested. 

We  are  just  informed  of  a  new  order  of  fanatics,  who 
have  recently  introduced  themselves  into  our  country, 
pretending  to  be  a  religious  sect;  but,  if  reports  be  true, 
they  are  a  disgrace  both  to  religion  and  to  human  nature. 
They  are  called  Shaking  Quakers,  or  dancing  quakers, 
though  they  have  no  affinity  either  in  principle  or  char 
acter  to  the  established  order  of  Quakers.  Their  leader 
is  a  female  by  the  name  of  Ann  Lee,  niece  of  General 
Lee,  of  our  army.  She  is  lately  from  England,  and  has 
brought  over  with  her  a  few  followers,  and  has  had  the 
address  to  seduce  several  individuals  of  our  country  to 
her  party.  She  is  known  by  the  appellation  of  Mother 
Ann,  and  pretends  to  have  received  a  revelation  from 
heaven.  The  method  which  they  practice  under  the  idea 
of  religious  worship,  is  so  obviously  impious,  as  to  exceed 
the  bounds  of  credibility ;  but  we  have  the  particulars 
from  eye-witnesses,  who  have  been  admitted  to  their  mid 
night  orgies.  They  spend  whole  nights  in  their  revels, 
and  exhibit  the  most  unbecoming  scenes,  violating  all 


142  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1778. 

rules  of  propriety  and  decency.  Both  sexes,  nearly  di 
vested  of  clothing,  fall  to  dancing  in  extravagant  postures, 
and  frequently  whirl  themselves  round  on  one  leg  with 
inconceivable  rapidity,  till  they  fall  apparently  lifeless  on 
the  floor.  A  spectator  asserts  that  the  fantastic  contor 
tions  of  body  in  which  their  pretended  religious  exercises 
consist,  bear  the  semblance  of  supernatural  impulse,  and 
that  no  imagination  can  form  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
extravagant  conduct  of  these  infatuated  people — a  bur 
lesque  on  all  moral  and  religious  principle.* 

August  3d. — I  am  now  to  notice  one  of  the  most  dread 
ful  instances  of  perfidious  savage  cruelty  that  can  perhaps 
be  found  on  the  records  of  history.  However  incredible 
the  particulars  may  appear,  they  are  found  in  various 
publications,  and  received  as  indubitable  facts.  Nor 
would  I  tarnish  a  page  with  the  diabolical  transaction, 
till  the  detailed  account  has  been  incontrovertibly  estab 
lished.  At  a  place  on  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susque- 
hannah  river,  was  a  flourishing  settlement  called  Wyoming. 
It  consisted  of  eight  townships,  containing  one  thousand 
families;  and  such  was  the  zeal  with  which  they  espoused 
the  cause  of  America,  that  they  voluntarily  raised  about 
one  thousand  soldiers  for  the  continental  army.  The 
climate  and  soil  of  this  territory  are  admirably  adapted  to 
the  production  of  grain,  hemp,  fruit  and  stock' of  all  kinds. 
The  inhabitants  of  this  secluded  spot  might  have  lived  in 
the  enjoyment  of  all  the  happiness  which  results  from 
harmony  and  the  purest  natural  affection.  But  unfortu 
nately  they  suffered  themselves  to  be  divided  by  the 
turbulent  spirit  of  party,  distinguished  by  the  epithet  of 
whig  and  tory.  When  this  rancorous  spirit  was  permit 
ted  to  disclose  itself,  animosities  arose  to  s*uch  an  aston 
ishing  height,  as  to  sever  the  tenderest  ties  of  family 
friendship  and  the  dearest  connexions.  Many  of  the 
active  inhabitants,  influenced  by  malice  and  revenge, 
abandoned  their  plantations,  forsook  their  neighbors  and 
friends,  and  allied  themselves  with  the  savages,  whom 
they  instigated  and  assisted  in  the  barbarous  work  of 

*  The  sect  now  denominated  Shaking  Quakers,  are  an  orderly  and 
civil  people;  they  have  rendered  themselves  remarkable  for  industry 
and  ingenuity,  and  for  their  particular  attention  to  agriculture  and  the 
mechanic  arts. 


Ff5c- 


^>Q>f 


- 

">~<7^ 

' 


Ps^^t^ 


f'"*<v.L^ 
W^sfe 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1773. 

slaughter  and  death  among  their  friends.  The  inhabitants, 
on  receiving  intelligence  that  an  enterprise  was  preparing 
against  them,  and  sensible  of  their  perilous  situation,  threw 
up  intrenchments  and  redoubts,  to  defend  themselves 
against  the  gathering  storm.  About  the  1st  of  July  last, 
the  ferocious  enemy,  consisting  of  one  thousand  six  hun 
dred  tories,  Indians  and  half-blooded  Englishmen,  ap 
proached  the  settlement,  and  were  perceived  lurking  about 
their  borders.  This  motley  combination  was  commanded 
by  a  Colonel  John  Butler,  a  tory  refugee,  and  others  no 
less  inhuman  and  cruel  than  their  savage  allies.  In  order 
to  lull  the  inhabitants  into  security,  the  enemy  several 
times  sent  messages  to  the  settlers  that  they  had  no  hos 
tile  designs  against  them,  and  the  treacherous  Butler  him 
self  declared  that  he  should  not  molest  them  the  present 
season.  The  inhabitants,  however,  had  reason  to  distrust 
their  professions,  and  those  capable  of  bearing  arms  were 
immediately  embodied  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Zeb.  Butler,  cousin  to  the  commander  of  the  savages. 

Finding  his  efforts  to  rally  the  retreating  Americans 
unavailing,  and  hoping  to  be  able  to  collect  a  sufficient 
number  to  defend  the  fort  until  assistance  could  arrive,  he 
turned  his  horse's  head  in  the  direction  of  the  garrison  and 
hastened  forward.  As  he  was  speeding  along  the  road,  he 
overtook  an  Indian  warrior  in  pursuit  of  one  of  his  men, 
who,  almost  exhausted,  would  in  a  few  moments  have 
yielded,  from  utter  exhaustion,  his  scalp  to  the  knife  of  the 
pursuer.  Having  either  lost  his  sword,  or  there  being  not 
time  to  use  it,  Butler  was  compelled  to  pass  the  Indian 
without  attacking  him. 

The  danger  was  too  imminent  to  allow  him  to  stop  for 
the  man,  and  he  was  obliged  to  pass  him  also. 

Despair  gave  momentary  strength  and  renewed  activity, 
however,  to  the  latter,  and  springing  forward,  he  seized 
the  long  tail  of  the  colonel's  horse,  and  held  on  with  the 
tenacity  of  death.  The  Indian  still  continued  to  pursue, 
hoping  probably  that  something  would  "  turn  up"  to  his 
advantage.  Something  did  turn  up,  but  not  as  he  antici 
pated. 

As  Butler  proceeded,  he  beheld  a  man,  lying  under  a 
tree,  evidently  intoxicated,  rubbing  his  eyes,  as  if  to  clear 
up  the  mist  which  enshrouded  his  faculties.  Perceiving 


144  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

at  a  glance  the  state  of  the  case,  Col.  Butler,  as  he  passed 
the  spot,  leaned  forward  and  shouted  to  the  man  to  kill 
the  Indian.  With  a  coolness  which  would  have  won  him 
laurels  in  the  battle,  the  inebriate,  resting  his  elbow  upon 
the  trunk  of  the  fallen  tree,  took  deliberate  aim  at  the  breast 
of  the  pursuer,  and  a  moment  after  he  was  in  the  dust — 
dead.  Then,  as  if  he  had  just  discovered  the  state  of 
affairs,  he  took  to  his  heels,  and  pushed  forward  at  his 
utmost  speed  after  the  colonel. 

Butler  was  betrayed  by  his  relative,  and  the  tragical 
scenes  which  followed,  would  not  be  recited  here,  were  it 
not  that  they  have  been  already  promulgated  from  authentic 
sources. 

Human  ingenuity  seemed  tasked  to  its  utmost  to  devise 
new  methods  of  cruelty,  to  be  exercised  upon  poor,  defense 
less  victims,  and  scenes  were  enacted  inconceivably  dread 
ful.  Barracks,  in  which  women  and  children  were 
confined,  were  set  on  fire  and  the  whole  consumed 
together.  One  of  the  prisoners,  a  Captain  Badlock, 
was  committed  to  torture,  by  having  his  body  stuck 
full  of  splinters  of  pine  knots,  and  a  fire  of  dry  wood 
made  around  him,  when  his  two  companions,  Captains 
Kanson  and  Durkee,  were  thrown  into  the  same  fire,  and 
.held  down  with  pitch-forks  till  consumed.  One  Partial 
Terry,  the  son  of  a  man  of  respectable  character,  having 
joined  the  Indian  part}^,  several  times  sent  his  father  word 
that  lie  hoped  to  wash  his  hands  in  his  hearts  blood;  the 
monster  with  his  own  hands  murdered  his  father,  mother, 
brothers  and  sisters,  stripped  off  their  scalps,  and  cut  off  his 
father's  head! !  Thomas  Terry  with  his  own  hands  butch 
ered  his  oicn  mother,  his  father-in-law,  his  sisters  and  their 
infant  children,  and  exterminated  the  whole  family!  A  few 
individuals,  mostly  women  and  children,  made  their  escape 
during  the  carnage  of  the  day,  and  dispersed  themselves, 
wandering  in  the  woods  destitute  of  provision  or  covering, 
shuddering  with  terror  and  distress;  their  sufferings  must 
be  extreme,  and  their  fate  uncertain.  It  is  only  in  the 
infernal  regions  that  we  can  look  for  a  parallel  instance  of 
unnatural  wickedness.  The  cries  of  widows  and  orphans 
call  for  the  avenging  hand  of  Heaven.  The  name  of 
Colonel  John  Butler  ought  to  be  consigned  to  eternal  in 
famy,  for  the  base  treachery  and  cruelty  with  which  he 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

betrayed  his  kinsman,  Colonel  Zeb.  Butler,  a  respectable 
American  o'fficer,  while  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag. 

4th. — In  company  with  Mr.  Governeur  Morris  and  Dr. 
Brown,  our  surgeon-general,  I  rode  to  camp  near  White 
Plains;  waited  on  Colonel  Scammel,  adjutant-general,  to 
inquire  whether  any  regiment  is  destitute  of  a  surgeon, 
as  I  am  desirous  of  exchanging  my  present  station  for  the 
office  of  regimental  surgeon.  This  object  I  might  have 
effected,  but  Dr.  Brown  prevailed  on  me  not  to  dissolve 
my  connexion  with  the  General  Hospital  at  present.  From 
camp  I  performed  a  journey  to  Branford,  and  from  thence 
to  Danbury,  in  Connecticut.  Dined  with  Drs.  E'ustis  and 
Adams,  at  their  quarters  at  Branford,  and  reached  'Dan- 
bury  in  the  evening.  On  my  return,  the  5th,  dined  at  a 
tavern  at  Crompond,  and  in  the  afternoon  I  missed  my 
road,  and  my  horse  tired.  I  was  directed  into  an  obscure 
path  through  a  thick  forest,  and  arrived  at  the  hospital 
late  in  the  evening.  Riding  through  a  thick  wood,  my 
attention  was  arrested  by  a  novel  spectacle:  On  a  branch 
of  a  large  oak,  about  thirty  feet  high,  I  observed  a  mon 
strous  black-snake,  suspended  by  a  coil  of  its  tail,  his  head 
and  about  half  his  length  inclining  downwards,  basking 
in  the  sun.  It  appeared  about  two  yards  in  length,  and 
the  size  of  a  man's  arm.  Its  skin  was  of  a  jet  black,  and 
its  prominent  sparkling  black  eyes  were  very  beautiful. 
He  viewed  me  as  I  passed  with  the  fierceness  of  a  tiger; 
but  discovering  none  of  those  fascinating  charms  by  which 
our  credulous  mother  Eve  was  so  wofully  beguiled,  and 
disdaining  the  whole  progeny  of  deceivers,  I  passed  on 
without  viewing  him  as  an  object  of  my  civilities. 

1th. — An  unusual  number  of  patients  have  been  brought 
into  our  hospital  within  a  few  days.  Their  diseases  are 
putrid  fever  and  dysentery;  many  of  the  cases  appear  so 
malignant,  that  it  is  feared  they  will  baffle  all  the  skill  of 
the  physician. 

Wth. — A  friend  from  Albany  informs  me  that  three 
men  and  two  girls  have  lately  been  sentenced  to  suffer 
death  for  murder  and  robbery.  The  two  girls  are  sisters, 
and  one  of  the  men  is  their  brother.  Another  brother 
was  executed  last  autumn,  and  their  mother  is  now  in  pri 
son,  awaiting  her  trial  for  the  same  crime.  The  women 
had  disguised  themselves  in  men's  apparel,  and  united  with 


146  MILITAEY  JOUKNAL,  1778. 

the  tories  and  Indians  in  perpetrating  the  most  inhuman 
cruelties  and  savage  barbarities  among  the  defenceless  and 
innocent  inhabitants.  It  is  time  this  notorious  family 
should  be  exterminated  from  the  earth,  as  an  awful  exam- 

Ele  to  those  wretches  who  are  still  in  the  practice  of  simi- 
ir  crimes.     One  of  the  British  ships  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York  took  fire  by  lightning,  and  blew  up;  the  ex 
plosion  shook  the  whole   city  like  an  earthquake,  and 
excited  great  consternation  among  the  inhabitants. 

September  4th. — A  large  French  fleet  has  arrived  on  our 
coast,  under  the  command  of  Count  D'Estaign,  and  has 
blocked  up  the  harbor  of  Newport.  An  army,  chiefly  of 
militia  and  volunteers,  from  the  New  England  states,  with 
two  brigades  of  continental  troops,  under  command  of 
Major-General  Sullivan,  laid  siege  to  the  royal  army  on 
the  island.  From  this  land  force,  with  the  cooperation 
of  the  French  fleet,  very  sanguine  expectations  were 
formed  that  the  enterprise  would  have  been  crowned 
with  success.  But  the  English  fleet  appeared,  and  Count 
D'Estaign  was  induced  to  pursue  them  and  to  offer  battle, 
when  unfortunately  a  violent  storm  arose,  by  which  his 
fleet  suffered  so  considerably  that  the  count  was  obliged 
to  quit  the  expedition,  and  proceed  to  Boston  to  repair 
his  ships.  General  Sullivan's  army  continued  several  clays 
on  the  island,  besieging  the  enemy,  and  finally  a  smart 
engagement  ensued,  in  which  both  our  regular  troops  and 
the  militia,  emulous  of  fame  and  glory,  combatted  the 
enemy  during  the  day.  The  result  of  the  contest  was  a 
repulse  of  the  royal  forces;  they  retired  from  the  field 
with  considerable  loss,  and  employed  themselves  in  forti 
fying  their  camp.  In  the  absence  of  the  French  fleet, 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  sent  from  New  York  large  reinforce 
ments,  in  consequence  of  which  it  was  unanimously  agreed 
in  a  council  of  war  to  retire  from  the  island.  The  retreat 
was  conducted  by  General  Sullivan  with  great  judgment 
and  discretion,  without  loss  of  men  or  baggage,  though  in 
the  face  of  an  enemy  of  superior  force.  This  exploit 
reflects  great  honor  both  on  the  general  and  the  brave 
troops  under  his  command.  In  the  honors  of  this  expe 
dition,  and  retreat,  Major  General  Greene,  and  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette  participated  conspicuously,  but  were  greatly 
disappointed  in  the  final  result. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1778. 

5th. — Major-General  Lee  has  gone  through,  his  trial 
before  a  court  martial  appointed  for  the  purpose.  The 
charges  exhibited  against  him  were — 1st,  Disobedience  of 
orders,  in  not  attacking  the  enemy  on  the  28th  of  June, 
agreeably  to  repeated  instructions.  2,  For  misbehavior 
before  the  enemy  on  the  same  day,  in  making  an  unneces 
sary,  disorderly  and  shameful  retreat.  3d,  For  disrespect 
to  the  commander-in-chief,  in  two  letters,  dated  June  28th 
and  July  1st.  To  these  several  charges  the  general  made 
a  very  able  and  excellent  defence,  particularizing  all  the 
circumstances  attending  the  unhappy  affair,  and  to  the  ut 
most  of  his  ability  extenuating  and  vindicating  his  conduct. 
The  court,  nevertheless,  pronounced  him  guilty,  and  their 
sentence  was,  "that  Major-General  Lee  be  suspended  from 
his  command  in  the  armies  of  the  United  States  for  the 
space  of  one  year."  This  sentence  is  like  a  mortal  wound 
to  the  lofty,  aspiring  spirit  of  General  Lee;  few  men  are 
less  calculated  to  sustain  such  a  rebuff  to  pride  and 
ambitious  views.* 

Qth. — A  duel  was  fought  a  few  days  since  between  Gen 
eral  G.  and  Colonel  W.  Two  shots  were  exchanged  with 
out  bloodshed,  and  a  reconciliation  was  effected.  The 
gentlemen,  it  is  said,  displayed  a  firmness  and  bravery 
becoming  their  rank  and  character,  and  have  established 
their  claim  to  the  title  of  gentlemen  of  honor.  As  their 
courage  has  never  been  called  in  question,  the  present 
rencontre  was  unnecessary,  unless  it  be  to  evince  that 
they  possess  malice  enough  in  their  hearts  to  commit  a 
murderous  deed.  The  example  of  superior  officers  will 
have  great  influence  with  those  of  inferior  rank,  whether 
contending  with  the  dogs  of  war,  or  in  adjusting  the  minor 
points  of  honor. 

8th. — Major-General  Putnam  has  arrived  in  this  vicinity, 
with  the  division  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  troops  under 
his  command,  and  they  have  encamped  on  the  borders 
of  the  river.  Brigadiers  Woodford  and  Muhlenburg  have 
taken  up  quarters  in  apartments  in  our  hospital.  This  is 
my  first  interview  with  this  celebrated  hero.  In  his  per 
son  he  is  corpulent  and  clumsy,  but  carries  a  bold,  un 
daunted  front.  He  exhibits  little  of  the  refinements  of 

*  See  Appendix,  for  General  Lee's  character  and  abuse  of  General 
Washington. 


148  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

the  well-educated  gentleman,  but  much  of  the  character 
of  the  veteran  soldier.  He  appears  to  be  advanced  to 
the  age  of  about  sixty  years,  and  it  is  famed  of  him  that 
he  has,  in  many  instances,  proved  himself  as  brave  as 
Caesar.  He  visited  our  hospital,  and  inquired  with  much 
solicitude  into  the  condition  of  our  patients;  observing 
a  considerable  number  of  men  who  were  infected  with 
the  ground  itch,  generated  by  lying  on  the  ground,  he 
inquired  why  they  were  not  cured.  I  answered,  "  Because 
we  have  no  hog's-lard  to  make  ointment."  "Did  you 
never,"  says  the  general,  "cure  the  itch  with  tar  and 
brimstone?"  "No,  sir."  "Then,"  replied  he,  good-hu- 
moredly,  "you  are  not  fit  for  a  doctor."* 

Dr.  Ferguson,  secretary  to  the  British  commissioners, 
forwarded  to  Congress  a  declaration  signed  George  John- 
stone,  respecting  the  resolve  of  Congress  relative  to  his 
attempt  on  the  fidelity  of  one  of  their  members,  which  re 
solve  he  thinks  to  be  calculated  by  Congress  to  delude  the 
people  of  America,  and  to  defeat  the  design  of  the  com 
missioners  in  effecting  an  accommodation,  which  he  says 
he  would  not  prevent,  and  therefore  declines  acting  any 
more  as  a  commissioner.  Another  declaration,  signed  by 
the  three  commissioners,  (Carlisle,  Clinton,  and  Eden,)  in 
which  they  disclaim  all  knowledge  of  the  conduct  of  Gov 
ernor  Johnstone,  in  tampering  with  a  member  of  Congress, 
till  they  read  it  in  the  newspapers.  This  paper  contains 
ungenerous  reflections  on  France,  and  intimates  their  as 
tonishment  that  the  Americans  should  prefer  an  alliance 
with  France  to  a  submission  to  the  government  of  England. 
This,  their  last  manifesto,  has  been  published,  and  by  per 
mission  of  Congress  circulated  through  the  United  States. 
It  was  addressed  to  the  members  of  Congress,  the  members 
of  the  general  assemblies  or  conventions  of  the  several 
colonies,  plantations,  and  provinces,  and  was  to  be  in  force 
forty  days  from  the  date.  It  offers  a  general  or  separate 
peace  to  the  colonies,  with  the  revival  of  their  ancient 
government,  secured  against  future  infringements,  and 
protected  for  ever  from  taxation  by  Great  Britain,  if  they 
will  relinquish  their  independence,  break  their  faith  with 
France,  Congress  having  formed  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  that 
nation,  and  submit  to  the  British  yoke.  These,  if  not  the 

*  See  Appendix  for  his  character. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

positive,  are  the  implied  terms  on  which  they  offer  peace. 
But  if  their  terms  are  not  complied  with,  then  are  we  to 
expect  more  severe  expressions  of  British  vengeance  than 
we  have  hitherto  experienced.  Hostilities  are,  they  say, 
to  be  conducted  in  a  more  rigorous  and  terrific  form,  that 
the  United  States  may  be  rendered  of  less  importance  to 
the  French  king,  their  inveterate  enemy,  and  our  new  ally. 
We  are,  therefore,  if  we  persevere  in  our  obstinacy,  threat 
ened  with  the  cruel  extremes  of  war,  and  a  desolation  of 
our  country.  This  last  manifesto  contains  a  recital  of  what 
the  commissioners  term  the  blessings  they  are  empowered 
to  confer,  and  a  warning  of  the  continued  train  of  evils  to 
which  the  colonies  are  at  present  blindly  and  obstinately 
exposing  themselves,  &c.,  &c.  The  commissioners  expli 
citly  declared  that  they  had.  neither  authority  nor  inclination 
to  acknowledge  the  colonies  to  be  independent — and  Con 
gress  having  informed  them  "that  they  would  treat  with 
Great  Britain  on  no  other  terms,"  it  put  an  end  to  the 
negotiation,  and  the  commissioners,  it  is  understood,  are 
preparing  to  depart  from  the  continent.  The  British 
government  manifests  extreme  chagrin  and  disappointment 
on  account  of  the  prosperous  career  of  the  United  States, 
and  are  very  indignant  that  their  conceited  omnipotent 
authority  should  be  so  presumptuously  called  in  question 
by  those  whom  they  still  affect  to  consider  in  the  light  of 
dependent  colonies. 

In  their  reply  to  the  declarations  of  the  commissioners, 
our  Congress  mention  the  causes  which  induced  the  people 
of  America  to  array  themselves  in  arms,  that  it  was  the 
oppressive  and  tyrannical  measures  of  the  British  ministry; 
and  after  briefly  reciting  the  cruelties  that  had  hitherto 
been  exercised  by  their  troops  and  navy,  acting  against 
us,  they  add,  "that  since  their  incorrigible  dispositions 
cannot  be  touched  by  kindness  and  compassion,  it  becomes 
the  duty  of  Congress,  by  other  means,  to  vindicate  the 
rights  of  humanity,"  and  they  conclude  by  saying,  "that 
if  our  enemies  presume  to  execute  their  threats,  and  per 
sist  in  their  present  mode  of  barbarity,  we  will  take  such 
exemplary  vengeance  as  shall  deter  others  from  a  like 
conduct."  They  appeal  to  that  God  who  searches  the 
hearts  of  all  men  for  the  rectitude  of  their  intentions,  and 
in  his  holy  presence  declare,  "that  as  they  are  not  moved 


150  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

by  any  light  or  hasty  suggestions  of  anger  or  revenge,  so 
through  every  possible  change  of  fortune  they  shall  ad 
here  to  this  their  determination." 

October. — The  regiment  of  cavalry,  commanded  by  Colo 
nel  Baylor,  being  posted  on  our  lines  near  Tappan,  their 
situation  was  betrayed  by  some  tories,  and  a  party  of  the 
enemy  surprised  them  while  in  a  barn,  in  the  night,  and 
massacred  a  part  of  them  with  circumstances  of  savage 
cruelty.  The  commander  of  the  party  who  disgraced- 
themselves  by  this  foul  deed,  was  the  English  General 
Grey.  Colonel  Baylor's  detachment  consisted  of  one  hun 
dred  and  four  horsemen;  the  attack  was  so  sudden,  that 
they  were  entirely  defenceless,  and  the  enemy  immediately 
commenced  the  horrid  work  of  slaughter;  their  entreaties 
and  cries  for  mercy  were  totally  disregarded  by  their  sav 
age  foes.  It  has  been  well  ascertained  that  the  British 
soldiers  were  ordered  by  their  inhuman  officers  to  bayonet 
every  man  they  could  find,  and  to  give  no  quarter.  Major- 
General  Lord  Stirling,  having  by  request  ascertained  the 
particulars  respecting  this  execrable  transaction,  makes 
the  following  statement:  "On  its  being  intimated  to  me," 
says  his  lordship,  "that  Congress  were  desirous  to  know 
the  particulars  of  the  massacre  of  Colonel  Baylor's  regi 
ment,  I  desired  Dr.  Griffith,  surgeon  and  chaplain  to  Gen 
eral  Woodford's  brigade,  and  who  attended  Colonel  Baylor 
and  the  other  wounded  persons,  to  collect  all  the  evidence 
he  could  of  this  barbarous  affair.  I  have  j  ust  now  received 
collections  on  this  subject."  The  collection  contains  the 
affidavits  and  depositions  of  a  number  of  soldiers  belonging 
to  that  unfortunate  regiment,  who  solemnly  declare  that 
after  they  had  surrendered  and  asked  for  quarter,  it  was 
refused.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  sergeant  of  the  third  troop, 
escaped  unhurt;  but  heard  the  British  soldiers  cry  out, 
"Sliver  him  I"  repeatedly.  Cullency,  of  the  first  troop, 
who  received  twelve  wounds,  says,  "that  when  the  enemy 
entered  the  barn  where  his  troops  lay,  he  and  the  men 
asked  for  quarter,  and  were  refused;  that  the  British  cap 
tain,  Bull,  after  inquiring  how  many  of  the  rebels  were 
dead,  on  being  told  the  number,  ordered  all  the  rest  to  be 
knocked  on  the  head,  and  that  his  orders  were  executed 
on  five  or  six  of  the  wounded."  Benson,  of  the  second 
troop,  received  also  twelve  wounds;  he  declared  he  heard 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

the  men  in  the  barn  with  him  ask  for  quarter,  which  was 
returned  with  wounds  and  abusive  language;  he  thought 
it  in  vain  to  ask  for  quarter  himself,  as  he  heard  the  sol 
diers  reply  to  others  that  begged  it,  "that  their  captain 
had  ordered  them  to  stab  all,  and  make  no  prisoners." 
Thomas  Talley,  of  the  sixth  troop,  received  six  wounds; 
he  declared,  "that  after  the  enemy  had  taken  him  and 
partly  stripped  him,  the  soldiers  inquiring  of  their  captain 
what  should  be  done  with  him,  he  ordered  him  to  be  killed, 
and  after  that  he  received  six  wounds  in  his  breast  with 
their  bayonets  at  different  times."  Southward,  of  the  fifth 
troop,  says,  that  five  men  out  of  thirteen  of  their  regiment, 
in  the  barn  with  him,  were  killed  outright,  and  the  rest, 
excepting  himself,  bayoneted;  that  he  heard  the  British 
officer  order  his  men  to  put  all  to  death,  and  afterwards 
ask  if  they  had  finished  all;  that  they  offered  quarters  to 
some,  who  on  surrendering  themselves,  they  bayoneted." 
The  depositions  of  seven  others,  attested  by  Governor 
Livingston  of  New  Jersey,  confirm  the  above  declarations. 
Mr.  morris,  lieutenant  and  adjutant  in  Baylor's  regiment, 
received  seven  wounds;  he  declared  that,  on  begging  his 
life  after  he  had  surrendered,  they  replied,  "Yes,  d — n 
you,  we  will  give  you  quarters!"  and  then  rushed  on  and 
stabbed  him  with  their  bayonets,  and  stripped  him  of  all 
his  clothes.  It  is  a  melancholy  and  awful  consideration, 
that  any  unnecessary  severity  should  be  put  in  practice 
to  aggravate  the  common  horrors  of  war.  Britain,  who 
boasts  of  her  bravery,  her  progress  in  the  polite  arts,  and 
generosity  of  temper,  has,  in  her  manner  of  conducting 
the  war  in  America,  most  infamously  outraged  all  the  laws 
of  humanity,  and  set  an  example  of  savage  brutality,  de 
testable  to  every  civilized  people,  and  to  every  friend  of 
human  kind.  They  are  destroying  the  character  of  their 
nation  in  the  eyes  of  all  the  world.  Witness  their  fatal 
prison-ships,  their  murders  in  cold  blood,  their  wanton 
burning  and  devastations,  their  licentious  abuses,  which 
exhibit  a  picture  of  barbarity  scarcely  to  be  credited  among 
civilized  nations.  What  then  must  be  our  situation,  should 
our  country  ever  be  reduced  to  an  absolute  subjection  to 
such  a  mean-spirited  people?  These  considerations  should 
awaken  every  motive  that  can  animate  a  manly  bosom,  to 
despise  every  danger  in  repelling  from  our  shores  such 


152  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

barbarous  invaders,  and  in  humbling  such  unprincipled 
foes  to  our  freedom. 

His  excellency  the  commander-in-chief  made  a  visit  to 
our  hospital;  his  arrival  was  scarcely  announced,  before 
he  presented  himself  at  our  doors.  Dr.  Williams  and 
myself  had  the  honor  to  wait  on  this  great  and  truly  good 
man  through  the  different  wards,  and  to  reply  "to  his 
inquiries  relative  to  the  condition  of  our  patients.  He 
appeared  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  the  situation  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers,  and  inquired  particularly  as  to  their 
treatment  and  comfortable  accommodations.  Not  being 
apprised  of  his  intended  visit  in  time  to  make  preparation 
for  his  reception,  we  were  not  entirely  free  from  embar 
rassment,  but  we  had  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  of  re 
ceiving  his  excellency's  approbation  of  our  conduct,  as 
respects  the  duties  of  our  department.  The  personal  ap 
pearance  of  our  commander-in-chief,  is  that  of  the  perfect 
gentleman  and  accomplished  warrior.  He  is  remarkably 
tall,  full  six  feet,  erect  and  well  proportioned.  The  strength 
and  proportion  of  his  joints  and  muscles  appear  to  be 
commensurate  with  the  preeminent  powers  of  his  mind. 
The  serenity  of  his  countenance,  and  majestic  gracefulness 
of  his  deportment,  impar.t  a  strong  impression  of  that  dig 
nity  and  grandeur  which  are  his  peculiar  characteristics, 
and  no  one  can  stand  in  his  presence  without  feeling  the 
ascendancy  of  his  mind,  and  associating  with  his  counte 
nance  the  idea  of  wisdom,  philanthropy,  magnanimity, 
and  patriotism.  There  is  a  fine  symmetry  in  the  features 
of  his  face,  indicative  of  a  benign  and  dignified  spirit. 

His  nose  is  strait,  and  his  eyes  inclined  to  blue.  He 
wears  his  hair  in  a  becoming  cue,  and  from  his  forehead 
it  is  turned  back  and  powdered  in  a  manner  which  adds 
to  the  military  air  of  his  appearance.  He  displays  a  native 
gravity,  but  devoid  of  all  appearance  of  ostentation.  His 
uniform  dress  is  a  blue  coat,  with  two  brilliant  epaulettes, 
buff-colored  under-clothes,  and  a  three-cornered  hat,  with 
a  black  cockade.  He  is  constantly  equipped  with  an  ele 
gant  small-sword,  boots  and  spurs,  in  readiness  to  mount 
his  noble  charger.  There  is  not  in  the  present  age,  per 
haps,  another  man  so  eminently  qualified  to  discharge  the 
arduous  duties  of  the  exalted  station  he  is  called  to  sustain, 
amidst  difficulties  which  to  others  would  appear  insur- 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

mountable,  nor  could  any  man  have  more  at  command 
the  veneration  and  regard  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
our  army,  even  after  defeat  and  misfortune.  This  is  the 
illustrious  chief  whom  a  kind  Providence  has  decreed  as 
the  instrument  to  conduct  our  country  to  peace  and  to 
independence. 

Major-General  Schuyler,  having  for  more  than  a  year 
been  suspended  from  military  command,  in  consequence 
of  his  concurrent  responsibility  respecting  the  evacuation 
of  Ticonderoga,  in  July,  1777,  has  at  length  undergone 
his  trial  by  a  court-martial,  of  which  Major-General  Lin 
coln  was  president,  and  is  acquitted,  with  the  highest 
honor,  of  the  charge  exhibited  against  him.  This  excel 
lent  officer  has  finally  obtained  that  justice  which,  from 
undue  prejudice,  has  so  long  been  denied  him. 

Major-General  Arthur  St.  Clair  has  also  by  the  same 
court  been  acquitted  with  the  highest  honor  of  the  charge 
exhibited  against  him,  of  evacuating  the  post  at  Ticonder 
oga.  His  masterly  defence  before  the  court  is  admired  for 
the  display  of  superior  intellect,  sound  principle,  pure  in 
tegrity,  and  correctness  of  judgment.  General  St.  Clair, 
it  is  presumed,  will  never  receive  an  adequate  compensa 
tion  for  the  unmerited  contumely  which  he  has  experi 
enced  from  Congress  and  the  public.  It  is  the  height  of 
injustice  to  subject  a  man  of  established  character  to  suffer 
in  reputation  and  in  sensibility,  merely  from  surmise  and 
suspicion;  and  the  injury  is  greatly  aggravated  when  the 
accused  is  long  held  up  to  public  odium,  and  not  permit 
ted  to  adduce  evidence  in  his  own  vindication.  General 
St.  Clair  has  frequently  been  heard  to  express  a  conscious 
ness  of  the  uprightness  and  propriety  of  his  conduct,  and 
to  despise  the  vague  censure  of  an  uninformed  populace; 
and  when  Burgoyne  was  advancing  into  the  country,  he 
said  he  had  the  most  sanguine  hope  that  the  progress  of 
the  enemy  would  be  checked,  and  that  he  should  have 
the  satisfaction  to  experience  that,  though  he  had  lost  a  post, 
he  had  eventually  saved  the  state.  This  hope  he  has  realized 
in  its  fullest  extent,  by  the  event  that  the  British  com 
mander  and  army,  to  whom  he  surrendered  a  post,  has 
since  been  compelled  to  submit  as  captives  to  our  army. 
General  St.  Clair  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  General 
"Wolfe,  and  was  in  the  battle  in  which  that  celebrated  corn- 


154  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

mander  was  slain  on  the  Plains  'of  Abraham.  He  was 
estimated  as  a  young  officer  of  merit,  capable  of  obtaining 
a  high  grade  of  military  reputation.  Soon  after  the  com 
mencement  of  hostilities,  in  1775,  he  was,  without  his 
solicitation,  appointed  to  the  office  of  colonel,  and  he 
marched  with  his  regiment  into  Canada,  where  he  ren 
dered  very  important  services.  He  was  subsequently  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  on  all  occasions 
supported  an  honorable  distinction,  and  shared  largely  in 
the  confidence  and  friendship  of  the  commander-in-chief. 

November  2>d. — Having  made  a  visit  to  Fishkill,  I  re 
turned  in  company  with  Dr.  Treat,  our  physician-general, 
and  found  a  large  number  of  gentlemen  collecting  to  par 
take  of  an  entertainment,  by  invitation  of  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Muhlenburg,  who  occupies  a  room  in  our  hospital. 
The  guests  consisted  of  forty-one  respectable  officers,  and 
our  tables  were  furnished  with  fourteen  different  dishes, 
arranged  in  fashionable  style.  After  dinner,  Major-Gen 
eral  Putnam  was  requested  to  preside,  and  he  displayed 
no  less  urbanity  at  the  head  of  the  table  than  bravery  at 
the  head  of  his  division.  A  number  of  toasts  were  pro 
nounced,  accompanied  with  humorous  and  merry  songs. 
In  the  evening  we  were  cheered  with  military  music  and 
dancing,  which  continued  till  a  late  hour  in  the  night. 
General  Muhlenburg  was  a  minister  of  a  parish  in  Vir 
ginia,  but  participating  in  the  spirit  of  the  times,  exchanged 
his  clerical  profession  for  that  of  a  soldier.  Having  in  his 
pulpit  inculcated  the  principles  of  liberty  and  the  cause 
of  his  country,  he  found  no  difficulty  in  enlisting  a  regi 
ment  of  soldiers,  and  he  was  appointed  their  commander. 
He  entered  his  pulpit  with  his  sword  and  cockade,  preach 
ed  his  farewell  sermon,  and  the  next  day  marched  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment  to  join  the  army,  and  he  does  honor 
to  the  military  profession. 

Wih. — Having  for  a  long  time  served  in  th^  hospital 
department,  and  having  no  claim  to  promotion  there,  I 
resolved  to  relinquish  that  station,  and  accept  the  appoint 
ment  of  surgeon  to  the  first  Virginia  state  regiment,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  George  Gibson.  Being  introduced  to 
the  officers  of  the  regiment,  I  received  a  polite  invitation 
to  take  my  quarters  in  the  marquee  with  Colonel  Gibson 


CORNWALLIS. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

and  his  lieutenant-colonel,  William  Brent.  Thomas  Mer- 
iweather  is  his  major. 

18$. — Rode  to  the  village  of  Fishkill,  breakfasted  with 
Dr.  Treat  and  Colonel  Hayes,  and  waited  on  Dr.  John 
Cochran,  who  is  now  in  close  attendance  on  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette,  who  is  dangerously  sick  with  a  fever. 

23J. — We  have  now  had  a  long  respite  from  battles  and 
skirmishes,  the  season  for  the  campaign  is  about  expiring, 
and  no  one  can  boast  of  having  achieved  deeds  of  much 
fame  and  glory.  As  we  are  stationed  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  enemy  at  New  York,  we  feel  secure 
from  the  annoyance  of  the  dogs  of  war ;  and  military  duty 
not  being  very  urgent,  our  officers  appear  disposed  to 
relax  in  their  discipline,  and  contract  a  habit  approaching 
to  dissipation.  They  have  adopted  the  practice  of  giving 
suppers  alternate!}^  with  music  and  dancing  through  half 
the  night.  These  are  the  favorite  amusements  of  the  Vir 
ginia  and  Maryland  officers,  but  they  do  not  accord  pre 
cisely  with  my  own  views  of  time  well  spent,  though  I 
am  frequently  enticed  to  a  participation  in  their  banquet 
ing  revels. 

24$. — I  accepted  an  invitation  to  dine  with  Captain 
Carter,  at  West  Point.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  independent 
fortune,  and  lives  in  splendid  style.  His  guests  were 
numerous  and  highly  respectable,  and  the  entertainment 
rich  and  arranged  with  taste. 

25$. — Dined  with  General  Muhlenburg,  in  company 
with  several  Virginia  officers,  and,  as  usual,  closed  the 
day  with  music  and  dancing. 

27$. — Visited  my  friends  at  Fishkill,  and  by  the  re 
quest  of  Colonel  Gibson  I  waited  on  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette.  The  colonel  furnished  me  with  a  letter  of  in 
troduction  and  his  compliments,  with  inquiries  respecting 
the  marquis's  health.  I  was  received  by  this  nobleman 
in  a  polite  and  affable  manner.  He  is  just  recovering 
from  a  fever,  and  was  in  his  chair  of  convalescence.  He 
is  nearly  six  feet  high,  large,  but  not  corpulent,  being  not 
more  than  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  is  not  very  ele 
gant  in  his  form,  his  shoulders  being  broad  and  high,  nor 
is  there  a  perfect  symmetry  in  his  features;  his  forehead 
is  remarkably  high,  his  nose  large  and  long,  eyebrows 
prominent,  and  projecting  over  a  tine  animated  hazel  eye. 
11 


j[56  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

His  countenance  is  interesting  and  impressive.  He  con 
verses  in  broken  English,  and  displays  the  manners  and 
address  of  an  accomplished  gentleman.  Considering  him 
a  French  nobleman  of  distinguished  character,  and  a  great 
favorite  of  General  Washington,  I  felt  myself  highly  hon 
ored  by  this  interview.* 

December  15th. — At  a  settlement  called  Cherry  Yalley, 
about  sixty  miles  above  Albany,  Colonel  Alden,  of  Dux- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  was  stationed  with  about  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  continental  troops,  to  protect  the  inhabitants 
from  the  incursions  of  the  frontier  enemy.  It  is  now  an 
nounced  that  a  body  consisting  of  about  seven  hundred 
Indians,  tories  and  soldiers  assaulted  our  party,  massacred 
Colonel  Alden,  several  of  the  inhabitants,  men,  women 
and  children,  and  made  prisoners  of  the  lieutenant-colonel 
and  many  of  the  inhabitants.  The  account  states  that  one 
hundred  and  eighty  of  the  surviving  inhabitants  had 
neither  house  nor  provisions,  were  almost  naked,  and 
destitute  of  money  to  provide  necessaries. 

Our  division,  commanded  by  General  Putnam,  marched 
according  to  general  orders  from  our  encampment  near 
Kobinson's  house,  28th  November;  arrived  at  King's 
ferry,  twelve  miles,  and  encamped;  29th,  crossed  the 
North  river  in  batteaux,  and  pitched  our  camp  on  the 
Jersey  shore;  30th,  marched  twelve  miles  only,  in  a 
severe  storm  of  snow  and  sleet,  encamped  near  the  small 
town  of  Kakiat.  December  1st  and  2d,  passed  through 
Paramus  and  Aquackanock,  twenty-six  miles.  These 
towns  are  inhabited  chiefly  by  Dutch  people;  their 
churches  and  dwelling-houses  are  built  mostly  of  rough 
stone,  one  story  high.  There  is  a  peculiar  neatness  in  the 
appearance  of  their  dwellings,  having  an  airy  piazza  sup 
ported  by  pillars  in  front,  and  their  kitchens  connected  at 
the  ends  in  the  form  of  wings.  The  land  is  remarkably 
level,  and  the  soil  fertile;  and  being  generally  advan 
tageously  cultivated,  the  people  appear  to  enjoy  ease  and 
happy  competency.  The  furniture  in  their  houses  is  of 
the  most  ordinary  kind,  and  such  as  might  be  supposed 
to  accord  with  the  fashion  of  the  days  of  Queen  Anne. 
They  despise  the  superfluities  of  life,  and  are  ambitious  to 

*  For  the  character  of  the  marquis,  see  Appendix. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1778 

appear  always  neat  and  cleanly,  and  never  to  complain  of 
an  empty  purse. 

Pursued  our  route  on  the  3d,  passed  through  Westfield, 
and  part  of  Newark,  a  handsome  village  situated  on  a 
river  of  that  name,  which  is  navigable  to  New  York,  dis 
tance  eight  miles.  In  this  village  there  is  a  public  acad 
emy  and  several  handsome  churches.  This  is  the  garden 
of  New  Jersey,  it  is  a  most  delightful  country,  uniformly 
level,  and  every  acre  abundantly  productive.  4th,  marched 
through  Springfield,  a  small  but  handsome  English  town. 
Encamped  near  the  village  of  Scotch  Plains.  Here  we 
received  orders  by  express  from  head-quarters  to  halt,  in 
consequence  of  some  movement  of  the  enemy  in  New 
York.  9th,  ordered  to  resume  our  march ;  passed  through 
Quibbletown  and  the  village  of  Middle-brook.  In  this 
vicinity  we  are  erecting  log  huts  for  our  winter-quarters. 

I  called  at  a  house  with  Colonel  Gibson  and  other  offi 
cers  to  view  a  phenomenon  in  the  human  form — a  child 
that  has  grown  to  an  enormous  size  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  he  measures  three  feet  six  inches  round  his  breast, 
and  three  feet  nine  inches  round  his  belly,  his  limbs  and 
joints  are  proportionably  large,  and  he  weighs  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  pounds.  I  was  informed  by  the  boy's 
mother  that  she  discovered  in  him  an  extraordinary  growth 
when  two  years  old,  since  which  he  has  increased  very 
rapidly.  He  enjoys  good  health,  and  is  not  deficient  in 
capacity. 

30th. — Our  officers  have  not  permitted  the  Christmas 
days  to  pass  unnoticed,  not  a  day  without  receiving  invita 
tions  to  dine,  nor  a  night  without  amusement  and  dancing. 
I  dine  to-day  with  General  Muhlenburg.  Our  soldiers  are 
constantly  employed  in  cutting  down  trees  and  building 
log  huts  for  our  winter's  accommodation,  and  we  are 
obliged  to  live  in  our  uncomfortable  tents  till  they  can  be 
completed.  This  is  appropriated  as  a  day  of  Thanksgiv 
ing  throughout  the  state.  Our  brigade  was  paraded  in 
the  field  to  attend  divine  service.  Dr.  Belmain,  our 
chaplain,  delivered  a  judicious  sermon,  well  adapted  to 
the  occasion,  adverting  to  the  great  cause  in  which  we  are 
engaged,  and  enjoining  a  grateful  reverence  to  the  Al 
mighty  Kuler  of  the  universe,  and  a  faithful  discharge  of 
the  ^duties  incumbent  on  us  in  our  several  stations. 


158  MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1779. 

January  1st,  1779. — Colonel  Gibson  made  an  entertain 
ment,  and  invited  all  the  officers  of  his  regiment  to  dine 
at  his  quarters  in  the  country  a  short  distance  from  camp. 
The  table  was  amply  furnished,  and  the  guests  did  not 
separate  till  evening,  when  we  were  requested  to  resort 
to  General  Muhlen burg's  quarters.  Here  we  were  intro 
duced  to  a  number  of  ladies  assembled  to  unite  with  the 
gentlemen  in  the  ball-room ;  a  very  elegant  supper  was. 
provided,  and  not  one  of  the  company  was  permitted  to 
retire  till  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Thus  have  the 
gallant  Virginians  commenced  the  new  year. 

February. — Having  continued  to  live  under  cover  of 
canvas-tents  most  of  the  winter,  we  have  suffered  extremely 
from  exposure  to  cold  and  storms.  Our  soldiers  have 
been  employed  six  or  eight  weeks  in  constructing  log  huts, 
which  at  length  are  completed,  and  both  officers  and  sol 
diers  are  now  under  comfortable  covering  for  the  remain 
der  of  the  winter.  Log  houses  are  constructed  with  the 
trunks  of  trees  cut  into  various  lengths,  according  to  the 
size  intended,  and  are  firmly  connected  by  notches  cut  at 
their  extremities  in  the  manner  of  dovetailing.  The  va 
cancies  between  the  logs  are  filled  in  with  plastering  con 
sisting  of  mud  and  clay.  The  roof  is  formed  of  similar 
pieces  of  timber,  and  covered  with  hewn  slabs.  The 
chimney,  situated  at  one  end  of  the  house,  is  made  of 
similar  but  smaller  timber,  and  both  the  inner  and  the 
outer  side  are  covered  with  clay  plaster,  to  defend  the 
wood  against  the  fire.  The  door  and  windows  are  formed 
by  sawing  away  a  part  of  the  logs  of  a  proper  size,  and 
move  on  wooden  hinges.  In  this  manner  have  our  sol 
diers,  without  nails,  and  almost  without  tools,  except  the 
axe  and  saw,  provided  for  their  officers  and  for  themselves 
comfortable  and  convenient  quarters,  with  little  or  no  ex 
pense  to  the  public.  The  huts  are  arranged  in  strait  lines, 
forming  a  regular,  uniform,  compact  village.  The  officers' 
huts  are  situated  in  front  of  the  line,  according  to  their 
rank,  the  kitchens  in  the  rear,  and  the  whole  is  similar  in 
form  to  a  tent  encampment.  The  ground  for  a  consider 
able  distance  in  front  of  the  soldiers'  line  of  huts  is  cleared 
of  wood,  stumps  and  rubbish,  and  is  every  morning  swept 
clean  for  the  purpose  of  a  parade-ground  and  roll-call  for 
the  respective  regiments.  The  officers'  huts  are  in  general 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779  159 

divided  into  two  apartments,  and  are  occupied  by  three 
or  four  officers,  who  compose  one  mess.  Those  for  the 
soldiers  have  but  one  room,  and  contain  ten  or  twelve 
men,  with  their  cabins  placed  one  above  another  against 
the  walls,  and  filled  with  straw,  and  one  blanket  for  each 
man.  I  now  occupy  a  hut  with  our  field-officers,  Colonel 
Gibson,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brent,  and  Major  Meri weather. 

4th. — A  duel  has  lately  been  fought  between  a  surgeon 
and  an  adjutant  in  General  Scott's  brigade;  the  former 
received  a  bad  wound,  and  the  latter  escaped  with  honor. 
"Who  will  hesitate,"  says  one,  "to  exchange  a  few  shots 
with  a  friend  to  obtain  the  appellation  of  a  gentleman  of 
honor?  If  I  kill  my  antagonist  I  have  the  satisfaction  of 
settling  a  point  of  honor!  If  I  receive  a  ball  through  my 
own  heart,  I  die  in  the  glorious  cause  of  honor!  'You 
have  offended  me  in  a  delicate  point,'  says  an  officer  to  his 
friend,  'and  I  now  demand  of  you  the  satisfaction  of  a 
gentleman :  I  have  settled  my  affairs,  and  prepared  myself 
to  die,  if  that  shall  be  my  fate.' — 'Then,'  replied  the 
other,  'we  cannot  fight  on  equal  terms,  for  I  have  not 
had  time  to  do  either.' " 

The  anniversary  of  our  alliance  with  France  was  cele 
brated  in  proper  style  a  few  days  since  near  head-quarters, 
at  Pluckemin.  A  splendid  entertainment  was  given  by 
General  Knox  and  the  officers  of  artillery.  General 
Washington  and  his  lady,  with  the  principal  officers  of 
the  army  and  their  ladies,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
respectable  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  state  of  New  Jer 
sey,  formed  the  brilliant  assembly.  About  four  o'clock 
sixteen  cannon  were  discharged,  and  the  company  col 
lected  in  a  large  public  building  to  partake  of  an  elegant 
dinner.  In  the  evening  a  very  beautiful  set  of  fire-works 
was  exhibited,  and  the  celebration  was  concluded  by  a 
splendid  ball,  opened  by  his  Excellency  General  Wash 
ington,  having  for  his  partner  the  lady  of  General  Knox. 

26^/i. — A  party  of  the  enemy  made  an  attempt  yester 
day  to  surprise  our  troops  stationed  at  Elizabethtown, 
under  the  command  of  General  Maxwell,  but  the  vigilance 
of  the  general  prevented  their  success.  They  sent  a  party 
to  capture  Governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey,  but  in  this 
attempt  they  were  also  frustrated.  After  burning  and 
plundering  a  few  houses,  they  returned  to  Staten  Island, 


160  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

but  were  pursued  by  General  Maxwell's  brigade,  which 
occasioned  the  loss  of  a  few  men  on  each  side. 

His  excellency  the  commander-in-chief  has  long  been 
in  the  practice  of  inviting  a  certain  number  of  officers  to 
dine  at  his  table  every  day.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
his  excellency  can  be  made  acquainted  with  every  officer 
by  name,  but  the  invitations  are  given  through  the  medium 
of  general  orders,  in  which  is  mentioned  the  brigade  from 
which  the  officer  is  expected.  Yesterday  I  accompanied 
Major  Cavil  to  head-quarters,  and  had  the  honor  of  being 
numbered  among  the  guests  at  the  table  of  his  excellency, 
with  his  lady,  two  young  ladies  from  Virginia,  the  gen 
tlemen  who  compose  his  family,  and  several  other  officers. 

It  is  natural  to  view  with  keen  attention  the  counte 
nance  of  an  illustrious  man,  with  a  secret  hope  of  discover 
ing  in  his  features  some  peculiar  traces  of  excellence,  which 
distinguishes  him  from  and  elevates  him  above  his  fellow- 
mortals.  These  expectations  are  realized  in  a  peculiar 
manner  in  viewing  the  person  of  General  Washington. 
His  tall  and  noble  stature  and  just  proportions — his  fine, 
cheerful,  open  countenance — simple  and  modest  deport 
ment — are  all  calculated  to  interest  every  beholder  in  his 
favor,  and  to  command  veneration  and  respect.  He  is 
feared  even  when  silent,  and  beloved  even  while  we  are 
•unconscious  of  the  motive.  The  table  was  elegantly  fur 
nished,  and  the  provisions  ample,  but  not  abounding  in 
superfluities.  The  civilities  of  the  table  were  performed 
by  Colonel  Hamilton  and  the  other  gentlemen  of  the  fam 
ily,  the  general  and  lady  being  seated  at  the  side  of  the 
table.  In  conversation,  his  excellency's  expressive  coun 
tenance  is  peculiarly  interesting  and  pleasing;  a  placid 
smile  is  frequently  observed  on  his  lips,  but  a  loud  laugh, 
it  is  said,  seldom,  if  ever,  escapes  him.  He  is  polite  and 
attentive  to  each  individual  at  table,  and  retires  after  the 
compliments  of  a  few  glasses.  Mrs.  Washington  combines 
in  an  uncommon  degree  great  dignity  of  manner  with  the 
most  pleasing  affability,  but  possesses  no  striking  marks 
of  beauty.  I  learn  from  the  Virginia  officers  that  Mrs. 
Washington  has  ever  been  honored  as  a  lady  of  distin 
guished  goodness,  possessing  all  the  virtues  which  adorn 
her  sex,  amiable  in  her  temper  and  deportment,  full  of 
benignity,  benevolence  and  charity,  seeking  for  objects  of 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

affliction  and  poverty,  that  she  may  extend  to  the  suffer 
ers  the  hand  of  kindness  and  relief.  These  surely  are 
the  attributes  which  reveal  a  heart  replete  with  those 
virtues  which  are  so  appropriate  and  estimable  in  the 
female  character. 

April  13th. — We  have  passed  a  winter  remarkably  mild 
and  moderate ;  since  the  10th  of  January,  we  have  scarcely 
had  a  fall  of  snow,  or  a  frost,  and  no  severe  weather.  At 
the  beginning  of  this  month  the  weather  was  so  mild  that 
vegetation  began  to  appear;  the  fruit-trees  were  budded 
on  the  1st,  and  in  full  blossom  on  the  10th.  In  Virginia 
the  peach-trees  were  in  blossom  on  the  14th  of  February, 
but  a  small  frost  since  has,  it  is  feared,  proved  fatal  to 
the  fruit. 

14:th. — I  accompanied  several  gentlemen  to  the  village 
of  Middle-brook,  where  a  number  of  horses  were  offered 
for  sale;  I  purchased  a  handsome  young  bay  for  six  hun 
dred  dollars.  This  shows  the  depreciated  value  of  the 
paper  money,  which  we  receive  for  pay;  the  horse  could 
not  be  valued  at  more  than  eighty  dollars  in  silver. 

16th. — The  officers  of  our  regiment  provided  a  genteel 
entertainment,  and  invited  Generals  Woodford,  Small- 
wood,  and  Muhlenburg,  with  all  the  officers  of  the  Virginia 
line,  as  our  guests.  Our  table  was  furnished  with  an 
ample  variety  of  dishes,  and  the  choicest  liquors  that  could 
be  procured. 

20th. — Five  soldiers  were  conducted  to  the  gallows,  ac 
cording  to  their  sentence,  for  the  crimes  of  desertion  and 
robbing  the  inhabitants.  A  detachment  of  troops  and  a 
concourse  of  people  formed  a  circle  round  the  gallows, 
and  the  criminals  were  brought  in  a  cart,  sitting  on  their 
coffins,  and  halters  about  their  necks.  While  in  this 
awful  situation,  trembling  on  the  verge  of  eternity,  three 
of  them  received  a  pardon  from  the  commander-in-chief, 
who  is  always  tenderly  disposed  to  spare  the  lives  of  his 
soldiers.  They  acknowledged  the  j  ustice  of  their  sentence, 
and  expressed  the  warmest  thankfulness  and  gratitude  for 
their  merciful  pardon.  The  two  others  were  obliged  to 
submit  to  their  fate;  one  of  them  was  accompanied  to  the 
fatal  spot  by  an  affectionate  and  sympathizing  brother, 
which  rendered  the  scene  uncommonly  distressing,  and 
forced  tears  of  compassion  from  the  eyes  of  numerous 


162  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1779. 

spectators.  They  repeatedly  embraced  and  kissed  each 
other,  with  all  the  fervor  of  brotherly  love,  and  would 
not  be  separated  till  the  executioner  was  obliged  to  per 
form  his  duty,  when,  with  a  flood  of  tears,  and  mournful 
lamentations,  they  bade  each  other  an  eternal  adieu — the 
criminal,  trembling  under  the  horrors  of  an  untimely  and 
disgraceful  death — and  the  brother,  overwhelmed  with 
sorrow  and  anguish  for  one  whom  he  held  most  dear. 

May  \st. — Thirteen  cannon  have  just  announced  the 
arrival  of  M.  Gerard,  the  French  minister,  and  a  gentleman 
of  distinction  from  Spain,  by  the  name  of  Don  Juan  de 
Mi  nil  liars;  and  preparations  are  making  to  afford  these 
foreign  gentlemen  an  opportunity  of  reviewing  our  army. 

2d. — The  whole  of  our  army  in  this  quarter  was  paraded 
in  martial  array  in  a  spacious  field,  and  a  stage  was  erected 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  spec 
tators.  At  the  signal  of  thirteen  cannon,  the  great  and 
splendid  cavalcade  approached  in  martial  pomp  and  style. 
A  very  beautiful  troop  of  light-horse,  commanded  by 
Major  Lee,  a  Virginian,  marched  in  front,  then  followed 
his  excellency  the  commander-in-chief  and  his  aids-de 
camp,  next  the  foreign  ministers  and  their  retinue,  and 
the  general  officers  of  our  army  and  their  aids,  closed  the 
procession.  Having  arrived  on  the  field  of  parade,  the 
cornmander-in-chief,  with  the  foreign  ministers  and  general 
officers,  passed  in  front  of  the  line  of  the  army,  from  right 
to  left,  in  review,  and  received  the  military  honors  due  to 
their  rank;  after  which,  the  gentlemen  dismounted  and 
retired  to  the  stage,  and  took  seats  with  Mrs.  Washington, 
Mrs.  Greene,  Mrs.  Kriox,  and  a  number  of  other  ladies, 
who  had  arrived  in  their  carriages.  The  army  then  per 
formed  the  field  manoeuvres  and  evolutions,  with  firing  of 
cannon  and  musketry.  The  business  of  the  day  was 
closed  by  the  troops  deploying,  and  marching  in  front  of 
the  stage,  and  paying  the  marching  salute  to  their  excel 
lencies.  The  whole  performance  was  conducted  with  such 
marked  regularity  and  precision,  as  to  reflect  great  honor 
on  the  character  of  our  army,  and  afford  the  commander- 
in-chief  and  the  spectators  the  highest  degree  of  satisfac 
tion.  On  this  occasion  we  cannot  but  pride  ourselves  on 
the  conspicuous  figure  exhibited  by  our  cornmander-in- 
chief.  While  mounted  on  his  noble  bay  charger,  his 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1779. 

stature  appears  remarkable;  and  being  a  good  horseman, 
he  displays  a  lofty  carriage,  and  benign  dignity  of  de 
meanor,  and  I  hope  not  to  incur  the  charge  of  undue 
partiality,  when  I  say,  his  appearance  was  incomparably 
more  majestic  and  dignified  than  either  of  his  illustrious 
visitors. 

I4ith. — Our  brigade  was  paraded  for  the  purpose  of  being 
reviewed  by  General  Washington  and  a  number  of  Indian 
chiefs.  His  excellency,  with  his  usual  dignity,  followed 
by  his  mulatto  servant  Bill,  riding  a  beautiful  gray  steed, 
passed  in  front  of  the  line,  and  received  the  salute.  He 
was  accompanied  by  a  singular  group  of  savages,  whose 
appearance  was  beyond  description  ludicrous.  Their 
horses  were  of  the  meanest  kind,  some  of  them  destitute 
of  saddles,  and  old  lines  were  used  for  bridles.  Their 
personal  decorations  were  equally  farcical,  having  their 
faces  painted  of  various  colors,  jewels  suspended  from 
their  ears  and  nose,  their  heads  without  covering,  except 
tufts  of  hair  on  the  crown,  and  some  of  them  wore  dirty 
blankets  over  their  shoulders  waving  in  the  wind.  In 
short,  they  exhibited  a  novel  and  truly  disgusting  specta 
cle.  But  his  excellency  deems  it  good  policy  to  pay  some 
attention  to  this  tribe  of  the  wilderness,  and  to  convince 
them  of  the  strength  and  discipline  of  our  army,  that  they 
may  be  encouraged,  if  disposed  to  be  friendly,  or  deterred 
from  aggression,  if  they  should  become  hostile  to  our 
country. 

28th. — The  Baron  Steuben  reviewed  and  inspected  our 
brigade.  The  troops  were  paraded  in  a  single  line  with 
shouldered  arms,  every  officer  in  his  particular  station. 
The  baron  first  reviewed  the  line  in  this  position,  passing 
in  front  with  a  scrutinizing  eye;  after  which,  he  took  into 
his  hand  the  muskets  and  accoutrements  of  every  soldier, 
examining  them  with  particular  accuracy  and  precision, 
applauding  or  condemning,  according  to  the  condition  in 
which  he  found  them.  He  required  that  the  musket  and 
bayonet  should  exhibit  the  brightest  polish;  not  a  spot  of 
rust  or  defect  in  any  part  could  elude  his  vigilance.  He 
inquired  also  into  the  conduct  of  the  officers  towards  their 
men,  censuring  every  fault  and  applauding  every  merito 
rious  action.  Next  he  required  of  me,  as  surgeon,  a  list 
of  the  sick,  with  a  particular  statement  of  their  accommo- 


164  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

dations  and  mode  of  treatment,  and  even  visited  some  of 
the  sick  in  their  cabins.  The  baron  has  sustained  the 
office  of  aid-de-camp  to  his  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia, 
and  is  now  inspector-general  with  the  rank  of  major-gen 
eral  in  our  army.  He  appears  to  be  about  fifty  years  of 
age,  and  is  venerable  and  dignified  in  his  deportment,  rich 
and  elegant  in  dress,  having  a  splendid  medal  of  gold  and 
diamonds,  designating  the  order  of  fidelity,  suspended  at 
his  breast.  He  is  held  in  universal  respect,  and  consid 
ered  as  a  valuable  acquisition  to  our  country.  He  is  dis 
tinguished  for  his  profound  knowledge  of  tactics,  his 
ability  to  reform  and  discipline  an  army — for  his  affection 
ate  attachment  to  a  good  and  faithful  soldier,  and  his  utter 
aversion  to  every  appearance  of  insubordination  and  neg 
lect  of  duty.  The  continental  army  has  improved  with 
great  rapidity  under  his  inspection  and  review. 

80th. — Dined  with  Major  Storer,  at  his  quarters  in  the 
country.  Spent  a  few  hours  at  General  St.  Glair's  quar 
ters,  with  Dr.  McKenzie  and  Major  Dunn,  and  called  on 
Colonel  Scammel  at  the  adjutant-general's  office. 

June  10th. — Smith's  Clove  is  a  fine  level  plain  of  rich 
land,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  high  mountains  on  the 
west  side  of  Hudson  river.  It  is  about  fourteen  miles  in 
the  rear  of  the  garrison  at  "West  Point,  and  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  the  highlands.  The  few  families  who  reside 
here  find  a  profitable  employment  in  cultivating  the  fertile 
soil.  Oar  brigade  marched  from  quarters  at  Middle-brook 
on  the  2d  instant,  and  arrived  at  Morristown,  where  we 
received  orders  to  leave  all  our  heavy  baggage,  and  pro 
ceed  with  all  possible  expedition,  as  the  enemy  was  ad 
vancing  towards  West  Point.  Marched  rapidly  through 
Troy,  Pompton  and  Eingwood,  and  on  the  7th  instant, 
encamped  in  the  Clove.  By  a  number  of  deserters  from 
the  enemy,  information  has  been  received  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  British  army  is  advancing,  and  is  now  near 
King's  ferry,  only  thirteen  miles  below  West  Point;  and 
that  part  of  their  fleet  is  proceeding  up  the  river:  their 
object  is  supposed  to  be  the  garrison  at  West  Point.  For 
the  security  of  this  very  important  post,  General  Wash 
ington  has  arranged  his  army  as  follows:  Three  divisions, 
consisting  of  the  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania 
troops,  commanded  by  Major-Generals  Lord  Stirling, 


MILITAKY  JOUKNAL,  1779. 

Baron  de  Kalb,  and  Major-General  St.  Clair,  form  the 
right  wing,  and  is  commanded  by  General  Putnam  as  the 
senior  major-general,  and  posted  at  Smith's  Clove.  All 
the  New  England  troops,  including  the  militia,  compose 
the  left  wing,  and  are  so  distributed  at  West  Point  and 
its  vicinity,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  as  to  guard  all 
the  passes  leading  to  the  garrison.  Our  army  thus  posted 
is  supposed  to  be  adequate  to  the  defence  of  the  garrison 
against  all  the  force  which  the  enemy  can  bring  in  array 
against  it;  and  such  is  the  confidence  among  our  officers, 
that  many  of  them  express  a  strong  desire  that*  the  royal 
troops  would  afford  an  opportunity  to  try  our  strength 
and  courage.  Should  this  be  the  event,  the  struggle  must 
indeed  be  violent,  and  the  slaughter  immense.  The  Brit 
ish  commander,  however,  not  deeming  it  prudent  to  haz 
ard  a  battle,  after  a  few  days  retired  to  New  York. 

12th. — Two  officers  of  our  regiment   have  just  had 
occasion  to  adjust  an  affair  of  honor.      Captain  E.  had 

given  offence  to  Captain  H.,  and  a  challenge  ensued, 
aptain  E.  was  well  apprised  that  if  the  ball  from  the 
pistol  of  his  antagonist  should  pass  through  his  heart,  it 
would  produce  immediate  death:  of  course  it  was  most 
prudent  to  decline  the  hazardous  combat.  But  the  con 
sequence  is,  he  subjected  himself  to  a  contest  of  a  less  hon 
orable  nature.  His  antagonist  inflicted  the  chastisement 
of  the  horse-whip.  This  he  supported  with  wonderful 
fortitude  and  magnanimity;  apprehending,  probably,  that 
powder  and  ball  might  prove  more  disastrous  than  the 
chastisement  which  he  had  received.  But  his  brother- 
officers  treated  him  with  Contempt,  and  threatened  to  hoot 
him  out  of  camp.  There  is  a  kind  of  mechanical  courage 
excited  by  the  necessity  of  the  occasion,  which  may  push 
a  coward  to  venture  on  an  act  of  heroism.  This  fact  was 
now  exemplified ;  for  Captain  E.,  reduced  to  the  alterna 
tive  of  retrieving  his  character  in  a  spirited  manner,  or 
of  quitting  the  army  in  disgrace,  came'  to  the  desperate 
resolution  of  deciding  his  fate  by  facing  his  bold  antago 
nist  in  single  combat.  The  usual  arrangements  being 
made,  my  services  as  surgeon  were  held  in  requisition. 
The  parlies  took  their  stand  at  ten  paces,  and  each  dis 
charged  his  pistol.  But  behold,  a  harmless  explosion!  no 
-blood  shed,  not  even  a  hair  of  their  heads  injured.  Bat 


163  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

the  combatants  conducted  like  gentlemen  of  honor:  of 
course,  harmony  and  mutual  friendship  were  restored. 
Captain  E.  has  the  best  cause  of  triumph,  for  he  has  res 
cued  his  character  from  the  stigma  of  poltroon,  to  an  hon 
orable  standing  among  the  gentlemen  officers. 

~L±lh. — I  rode  with  Major  Meri weather  to  West  Point; 
took  our  route  through  the  woods,  over  abrupt  and  rocky 
mountains,  almost  impassable  for  our  horses.  Spent  an 
hour  at  General  Parsons's  head-quarters,  then  crossed  the 
North  river  to  Fishkill.  The  next  day  we  recrossed  at 
Fishkill-landing,  and  rode  to  New  Windsor,  thence  we 
visited  my  friend  Colonel  Malcolm  at  his  seat  fourteen 
miles  in  the  country.  This  gentleman,  having  resigned 
his  office  in  the  army,  is  beautifully  situated  on  a  farm 
west  of  the  Hudson,  retired  from  the  bustle  of  war,  and 
devoted  to  domestic  affairs  and  rural  enjoyments.  We 
spent  the  night  with  this  agreeable  family,  and  Mrs.  Mal 
colm  received  in  the  evening  the  visits  of  a  number  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen.  We  returned  to  our  camp  the  next 
morning,  and  found  the  brigade  under  marching  orders. 

16th. — We  marched  from  Smith's  Clove  through  a  thick 
wilderness,  and  over  the  prodigious  highland  mountains. 
My  curiosity  was  excited  by  a  vast  number  of  huge  rocks, 
marked  with  fissures  and  cavities,  occasioned  by  some 
stupendous  power  beyond  our  comprehension.  These, 
with  various  brooks,  winding  in  every  direction,  among 
rude  clefts  and  precipices,  afford  a  singular  and  romantic 
landscape.  Our  path  was  narrow  and  rugged,  and  proba 
bly  will  not  again  be  traversed  but  by  savages  and  wild 
beasts.  We  arrived  here  in  the  evening,  without  our 
baggage,  and  were  obliged  to  seek  lodgings  among  our 
friends.  The  next  day  dined  with  Dr.  I.  Thomas,  and 
accompanied  him  to  General  Patterson's  quarters,  where 
we  spent  the  evening,  and  I  was  introduced  to  Major  lias- 
kill,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Patterson.  He  is  a  native  of 
Rochester,  and  Dr.  Thomas  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts. 

20th. — I  have  lately  been  favored  with  a  letter  from  my 
friend  Dr.  D.  Townsend,  who  is  a  surgeon  in  the  military 
hospital  at  Providence,  state  of  Rhode  Island.  He  invites 
me  to  accept  of  the  office  of  surgeon  to  the  Massachusetts 
regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Henry  Jackson,  which 
is  now  stationed  at  that  place.  My  principal  inducement 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

to  exchange  my  present  station  for  the  proposed  new  ap 
pointment  is,  that  Colonel  Jackson  and  all  his  officers  are 
from  my  native  state,  and  there  is  a  prospect  of  receiving 
some  compensation  in  clothing  and  other  articles  to  which 
1  could  have  no  claim  while  serving  in  the  Virginia  line. 
It  is  proper,  and  on  many  accounts  convenient,  that  offi 
cers  should  serve  in  the  line  of  their  own  state;  and 
though  I  have  enjoyed  the  most  friendly  intercourse,  and 
numerous  kind  favors  from  the  Virginians,  yet  I  cannot 
but  prefer  the  manners  and  habits  of  the  New  Englanders. 

21st — The  officers  of  our  regiment  invited  a  select  num 
ber  of  officers  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  to  dine  on  sturgeon, 
a  large  fish  which  Major  Meriweather  caught  in  the  North 
river.  This  fish  is  a  favorite  with  the  Dutch,  at  Albany, 
and  is  on  that  account  by  some  called  Albany  beef;  but 
in  my  view  it  is  worse  than  horse  beef,  and  it  was  merely 
an  auxiliary  to  our  table. 

24^. — I  have  just  had  the  satisfaction,  with  a  number 
of  gentlemen,  of  viewing  a  remarkably  large  fat  ox,  which 
has  been  presented  by  some  gentlemen  in  Connecticut  to 
his  Excellency  General  Washington.  He  is  six  feet  seven, 
inches  high,  and  weighs  on  the  hoof  three  thousand  five 
hundred  pounds,  the  largest  animal  I  ever  beheld. 

Having  resolved  to  resign  my  commission  in  Colonel 
Gibson's  regiment,  I  shall  in  a  few  days  commence  my 
journey  to  Providence,  and  join  the  regiment  commanded 
by  Colonel  H.  Jackson.  Colonel  Gibson  has  favored  me 
with  a  complimentary  certificate  of  my  services.  It  is 
with  sincere  regret  that  I  bid  adieu  to  those  associates,  for 
whom  I  have  a  strong  attachment. 

July  1st. — Engaged  to  spend  this  evening  with  General 
Patterson  and  Dr.  Crowell,  and  to  breakfast  with  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Avery  and  Mr.  Hitchcock,  and  shall  immediately  set 
off  for  Providence,  in  company  with  Dr.  Skinner. 

I  left  West  Point,  in  company  with  Dr.  Skinner,  on  the 
2d  instant,  and  on  the  3d  arrived  at  Crompond,  where  my 
favorite  young  horse  was  seized  with  the  horse  distemper, 
and  I  was  put  to  the  cruel  necessity  of  disposing  of  him 
for  not  one-half  his  real  value.  Pursued  our  journey 
through  Litchfield  and  Farmington,  in  Connecticut,  and 
the  next  day  reached  Hartford,  a  well-built,  handsome 
town  on  Connecticut  river,  and  the  capital  of  that  state. 


153  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

Having  crossed  over  to  East  Hartford,  we  found  the  whole 
country  in  a  state  of  alarm  in  consequence  of  the  enemy's 
having  landed  at  New  Haven,  and  there  committing  dep 
redations  among  the  inhabitants.  A  spirit  of  revenge 
seemed  to  pervade  the  whole  country,  and  the  militia 
were  marching  from  all  quarters  to  encounter  and  arrest 
the  progress  of  the  invading  foe.  We  passed  through 
Windham,  and  arrived  at  this  place  'on  the  8th  instant. 
Here  I  had  an  interview  with  my  old  friends  Drs.  Brown 
and  Townsend,  surgeons  of  the  hospital.  I  was  by  Dr. 
Townsend  introduced  to  Colonel  Jackson  and  his  officers, 
and  I  commenced  *ny  duty  by  visiting  the  sick  soldiers  of 
the  regiment.  The  field-officers  of  this  regiment  are  Col 
onel  Henry  Jackson,  Lieutenant-Colonel  David  Cobb,  and 
Major  Lemuel  Trescott.  It  is  now  learned  that  the  party 
of  the  enemy  that  landed  at  New  Haven  was  commanded 
by  Governor  Tryon,  and  consisted  of  three  thousand  men. 
They  met  with  a  powerful  resistance  from  the  militia, 
which  occasioned  skirmishing,  and  a  considerable  loss  on 
each  side.  After  plundering  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield 
and  Norwalk,  they  maliciously  destroyed  both  these  flour 
ishing  towns,  with  their  houses  of  religious  worship,  by  a 
general  conflagration. 

13th. — Dined  with  Colonel  Jackson,  and  in  the  afternoon 
rode  with  Major  Trescott  to  Pawtuxet,  a  very  pleasant 
ride  of  about  five  miles. 

21st. — By  express  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Gates,  we  are  informed  of  a  glorious  victory,  which  a 
detachment  of  our  army,  commanded  by  the  intrepid 
General  Wayne,  obtained  over  the  enemy  at  Stony  Point, 
situated  on  the  banks  of  the  North  river.  In  consequence 
of  this  intelligence,  thirteen  cannon  have  been  fired  at  the 
several  posts  in  this  department.  Extract  from  General 
Gates'  orders: 

"PROVIDENCE,  July  21st,  1779. 

"The  general  congratulates  the  army  on  the  glorious  success  of 
Brigadier-General  Wayne,  and  the  gallant  troops  under  his  command, 
in  taking  by  assault  the  enemy's  fortified  post  at  Stony  Point,  and, 
with  the  point  of  the  bayonet  alone,  forcing  the  garrison  to  surrender 
at  discretion,  not  one  man  escaping.  This  signal  and  brilliant  victory 
was  gained  with  the  loss  of  but  fifteen  men  killed,  and  the  general  and 
eighty-three  wounded,  while,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  five  hundred 
soldiers  and  twenty  officers  were  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners, 
with  all  their  cannon,  arms,  military-stores  and  provisions." 


MILITAKY  JOUKNAL,  1779. 

30th. — Dined  at  head-quarters  with  a  number  of  gentle 
men;  was  introduced  to  General  Gates  by  Dr.  Brown. 
General  Gates  is  the  commander-in-chief  in  this  depart 
ment;  his  capture  of  General  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga,  in 
1777,  has  given  him  eclat  and  popularity  as  a  brave  and 
skillful  warrior.  He  displays  the  complaisant  manners 
of  a  gentleman ;  in  conversation  he  is  affable  and  interest 
ing,  but  appears  better  versed  in  military  tactics  than  in 
subjects  appertaining  to  general  science.  He  adopted  the 
profession  of  arms  in  his  early  days,  and  his  prowess  and 
valor,  as  well  as  his  zeal  and  partiality  for  our  country, 
are  incontestably  established. 

Congress  have  recently  passed  the  fallowing  resolve  in 
favor  of  an  American  heroine:  "That  Margaret  Corbin, 
who  •  was  wounded  and  disabled  at  the  attack  of  Fort 
Washington,  while  she  heroically  filled  the  post  of  her 
husband,  who  was  killed  by  her  side,  serving  a  piece  of 
artillery,  do  receive  during  her  natural  life,  or  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  said  disability,  the  one-half  of  the  monthly 
pay  drawn  by  a  soldier  in  the  service  of  these  stales ;  and 
that  she  now  receive,  out  of  the  public  stores,  one  com 
plete  suit  of  clothes,  or  the  value  thereof  in  money." 

Mr.  T.,  an  ensign  in  our  regiment,  has  for  some  time 
discovered  symptoms  of  mental  derangement.  He  is  fre 
quently  strolling  abroad,  and  amusing  people  with  his  wit 
and  humor,  or  arresting  attention  by  his  solemn  appeals 
to  the  Deity.  Yesterday  he  intruded  himself  at  General 
Gates'  head-quarters,  and  after  some  amusing  conversation, 
he  put  himself  in  the  attitude  of  devotion,  and  prayed  that 
God  would  pardon  General  Gates  for  endeavoring  to  super 
sede  that  god-like  man  Washington.  The  general  appeared 
to  be  much  disturbed,  and  directed  Mr.  Pierce,  his  aid-de- 
carnp,  to  take  him  away.  Whether  this  address  provoked 
in  the  general  a  consciousness  of  the  fact  is  uncertain,  but 
the  subject  is  of  such  a  delicate  nature  that  no  man  in  his 
sober  senses  would  have  broached  it  to  him. 

August. — The  British  a  few  weeks  since  detached  a 
force  from  Halifax,  and  established  a  post  on  Penobscot 
river,  in  the  Province  of  Maine.  Their  force  is  supposed 
to  consist  of  about  one  thousand  men,  under  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Maclean,  with  several  armed  vessels, 
which  occupy  the  river.  This  invasion  of  our  territory 


170  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

has  excited  the  greatest  indignation,  and  all  classes  of 
people  are  burning  with  an  ardent  desire  of  revenge.  The 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  have  planned  an  expedi 
tion,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  the  invading  foe  from  our 
shores.  Such  was  their  zeal  and  confidence  of  success, 
that  it  is  said  the  General  Court  neither  consulted  any 
experienced  military  character,  nor  desired  the  assistance 
of  any  continental  troops  on  this  important  enterprise — 
thus  taking  on  themselves  the  undivided  responsibility, 
and  reserving  for  their  own  heads  all  the  laurels  to  be 
derived  from  the  anticipated  conquest.  They  drafted  one 
thousand  five  hundred  militia,  and  appointed  General 
Lovell,  who  acquired  some  reputation  in  Khode  Island, 
under  General  Sullivan,  the  last  year,  to  command  the 
expedition.  They  obtained  of  Congress  the  loan  of  the 
United  States  frigate  Warren,  of  thirty-two  guns,  and  with 
an  unprecedented  spirit  of  enterprise  and  industry,  no  less 
than  nineteen  continental,  state,  and  private  ships,  and 
more  than  twenty  transports,  were  specially  equipped,  and 
prepared  to  cooperate  with  the  land  forces  destined  for 
this  service.  "With  a  laudable  spirit  of  patriotism,  and 
animated  by  the  flattering  prospect  of  success,  thirty 
masters  of  merchant  vessels  in  Newburyport  honorably 
volunteered  their  services  as  common  seamen.  Captain 
Saltonstall  was  appointed  commodore  of  the  fleet,  and  took 
his  station  on  board  the  Warren  frigate.  This  combined 
force  sailed  about  the  20th  of  July  on  their  destined  ser 
vice,  but  having  some  reason  to  apprehend  a  failure  of 
their  enterprise,  the  Genera!  Court  have  applied  to  General 
Gates  for  permission  for  Colonel  Jackson's  regiment  to  re 
inforce  General  Lovell,  to  which  he  has  assented,  and  we 
are  accordingly  under  marching  orders. 

Colonel  Henry  Jackson,  who  commands  our  regiment, 
is  a  native  of  Boston ;  he  is  very  respectable  as  a  com 
mander,  is  gentlemanly  in  his  manners,  strongly  attached 
to  military  affairs,  and  takes  a  peculiar  pride  in  the  dis 
cipline  and  martial  appearance  of  his  regiment.  Many  of 
his  officers  are  from  Boston  and  its  vicinity;  they  appear 
in  handsome  style,  and  are  ambitious  to  display  their  taste 
for  military  life  and  their  zeal  to  contend  with  the  enemies 
of  their  country.  Colonel  Jackson,  with  his  regiment, 
acquired  reputation  by  their  gallantry  in  the  battle  on 


GENERAL   JOHX   SULLIVAX,    LL.    D. 


MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1779. 

Rhode  Island,  under  General  Sullivan.  Our  regiment 
consists  of  about  four  hundred  men,  in  complete  uniform, 
well  disciplined,  and  not  inferior  to  any  in  the  continental 
army.  We  commenced  a  forced  march  from  Providence 
on  the  10th,  and  completed  the  forty  miles  in  twenty-four 
hours.  A  severe  rain  all  night  did  not  much  impede  our 
march,  but  the  troops  were  broken  down  with  fatigue. 
We  reached  Boston-neck  at  sun-rising,  and  near  the  en 
trance  of  the  neck  is  a  tavern  having  for  its  sign  a  repre 
sentation  of  a  globe,  with  a  man  in  the  act  of  struggling 
to  get  through  it;  his  head  and  shoulders  were  out,  his 
arms  extended,  and  the  rest  of  his  body  inclosed  in  the 
globe.  On  a  label  from  his  mouth  was  written,  "Oh! 
how  shall  I  get  through  this  world?"  This  was  read  by 
the  soldiers,  and  one  of  them  exclaimed,  "List,  d — n  you, 
list,  and  you  will  soon  get  through  this  world!  Our  regi 
ment  will  all  be  through  it  in  an  hour  or  two,  if  we  don't 
halt  by  the  way." 

We  are  treated  by  the  gentlemen  of  this  town  with  great 
attention  and  respect.  They  have  generously  presented 
to  Colonel  Jackson  and  the  officers  of  his  regiment  a  hogs 
head  of  Jamaica  spirits  and  a  cask  of  wine.  For  the 
soldiers  they  have  collected  a  liberal  sum  of  money,  which 
is  distributed  among  them.  A  public  dinner  is  to  be  pro 
vided  at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern  for  the  officers,  before 
our  departure.  The  transports  are  in  preparation  to  re 
ceive  our  troops  on  board. 

On  the  14th,  our  regiment  marched  through  the  town 
to  the  Long  wharf,  and  embarked  on  board  the  transports, 
receiving  as  we  passed  through  King-street  the  cheers  of 
the  inhabitants.  After  the  regiment  had  embarked,  the 
officers,  according  to  previous  arrangement,  returned  to 
the  Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern,  where  a  liberal  and  elegant 
entertainment  had  been  provided,  and  where  we  were 
politely  received  by  a  number  of  respectable  gentlemen 
of  the  town.  Having  dined  and  enjoyed  a  number  of 
songs  over  the  cheering  glass,  wishing  success  to  the 
Penobscot  expedition,  we  repaired  on  board  our  respective 
transports,  awaiting  a  fair  wind  for  our  voyage.  Our 
transports  are  the  Eising  Empire,  a  brig  carrying  eight 
guns,  two  sloops,  and  one  schooner.  Our  convoy  is  the 
ship  Renown,  of  fourteen  guns,  and  a  brig  of  sixteen 
12 


172  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1779. 

guns.  About  four  o'clock  on  the  15th  instant,  the  Re 
nown,  our  convoy,  fired  her  signal-guns  for  sailing,  on 
which  our  little  fleet  weighed  anchor,  and  after  giving 
three  cheers,  which  were  returned  by  a  concourse  of 
people  on  the  wharves,  and  by  a  French  ship  in  the  har 
bor,  we  sailed  after  our  convoy,  but  dropped  anchor  near 
Castle  William,  by  reason  of  contrary  winds. 

17th. — In  the  evening  we  obeyed  the  signal-guns,  and 
were  beating  against  contrary  wind  off  Cape  Anne  till  the 
19th,  when  we  fell  in  with  a  small  boat  off  the  Isle  of 
Shoals,  which  had  been  despatched  with  the  unwelcome 
intelligence  that  our  fleet  at  Penobscot  had  been  attacked 
by  the  British,  and  was  totally  defeated  and  destroyed, 
and  that  our  land  forces,  under  General  Lovell,  were  also 
entirely  defeated  and  dispersed.  Orders  were  received  for 
our  fleet  to  put  into  Portsmouth  harbor  for  safety,  as  sev 
eral  British  ships  were  supposed  to  be  in  pursuit  of  us. 

21st. — Our  regiment  disembarked  and  encamped  at  Kit- 
tery  ;  being  Sunday,  I  accompanied  several  of  our  officers 
to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hemmen way's  church;  he  is  a 
sensible  and  animating  preacher,  displaying  considerable 
eloquence  and  much  orthodoxy.  In  his  fervent  prayers, 
he  was  not  forgetful  of  the  calamities  of  war,  and  the 
righteous  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged.  Here  we  have 
a  confirmation  of  the  unfortunate  failure  of  the  Penobscot 
expedition,  which  is  a  source  not  only  of  universal  regret, 
but  of  infinite  chagrin  and  mortification  among  all  who 
had  been  concerned  in  the  plan. 

August. — Having  received  orders  to  march  to  Fal- 
mouth,  (now  Portland,)  left  Kittery  on  the  23d  instant, 
and  on  the  27th  entered  this  town  in  martial  order,  and 
were  received  with  marks  of  the  greatest  joy  and  satisfac 
tion,  as  the  inhabitants  were  under  serious  apprehensions 
of  a  visit  from  the  British.  We  behold  here  only  the 
relics  of  a  town,  which  a  few  years  since  was  very  respect 
able  and  flourishing.  It  was  the  capital  of  the  province 
of  Maine,  and  enjoyed  the  happy  prospect  of  becoming 
one  of  the  most  important  seaports  in  New  England.  But 
in  October,  1775,  the  inhabitants  opposed  the  lading  of  a 
British  vessel  with  ship  timber,  which  so  enraged  Admiral 
Graves,  that  he  sent  Captain  Mowat  with  several  ships  of 
war,  demanding  of  the  inhabitants  to  deliver  up  all  their 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

artillery  and  small  arras.  On  refusal  to  comply  with  this 
demand,  the  enemy  opened  a  severe  cannonade,  which 
soon  set  fire  to  the  town,  and  no  less  than  four  hundred 
and  eight  houses,  stores  and  other  buildings,  were  con 
sumed  to  ashes.  A  large  number  of  seamen  and  mariners 
were  landed,  but  the  people  having  collected  in  consider 
able  force,  compelled  the  enemy  to  retreat  to  their  boats, 
with  the  loss  of  several  men. 

By  several  gentlemen  just  returned  from  Penobscot,  I 
have  obtained  the  following   particulars  respecting  the 
failure  of  the  expedition.     On    the   arrival   of  General 
Lovell,  instead  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  militia,  nine 
hundred  only  could  be  collected;  it  was  resolved,  how 
ever,  in  a  council  of  war,  to  make  an  attempt  to  achieve 
the  object  of  the  expedition ;  accordingly,  on  the  28th  of 
July,  the  militia,  with  about  three  hundred  marines,  were 
disembarked,  and  soon  effected  a  landing  under  a  height 
which  rose  almost  perpendicularly  from  the  banks  of  the 
river,  on  the  summit  of  which  the  enemy's  advanced  guard 
was  posted  under  cover  of  a  wood.     Our  militia  were  op 
posed  by  about  an  equal  number  of  the  enemy,  whom  they 
bravely  encountered  and  drove  within  their  works;  but 
we  suffered  a  loss  of  several  officers  of  merit,  and  about 
one  hundred  of  the  militia  and  marines  were  killed  and 
wounded.     It   now   became   a   subject   of  consideration 
whether  it  was  expedient  to  storm  the  enemy's  principal 
works,  but  in  a  council  it  was  decided  that  our  force  was 
inadequate  to  the  object.     It  was  at  this  juncture  supposed 
that  by  a  vigorous  cooperation  of  our  navy,  a  complete 
victory  might  have  been  obtained,  and  the  most  urgent 
and  pressing  entreaties  were  made  to  Commodore  Salton- 
stall  lor  the  purpose,  but  he  declined,  and  continued  in  a 
state  of  pusillanimous  inactivity,  thereby  proclaiming  him 
self  totally  incompetent  to  the  important  trust  with  which, 
most  unfortunately,  he  had  been  invested. 

On  the  14th  instant,  Sir  George  Collier,  with  a  sixty- 
four-gun  ship  and  five  frigates,  arrived  from  New  York. 
General  Lovell,  on  receiving  this  intelligence,  ordered  all 
his  troops,  with  the  artillery  and  baggage;  to  be  embarked 
on  board  the  transports,  which,  with  our  whole  fleet, 
moved  up  the  Penobscot  river,  pursued  by  the  British. 
On  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy,  our  vessels  were 


174  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

abandoned;  two  of  them  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
the  remainder  were  burned  and  blown  up.  General  Lov- 
ell  and  General  Peleg  Wadsworth,  the  second  in  command, 
both  of  whom  have  the  reputation  of  brave  men,  now  dis 
pensed  with  all  command  of  the  troops,  as  did  Salton  stall 
of  the  seamen.  The  soldiers  separated  from  their  officers, 
and  every  individual  was  seeking  his  own  safety,  wander 
ing  in  the  wilderness,  suffering  fatigue,  hunger,  and  vex 
ation,  till  after  much  difficulty  they  reached  the  settlements 
on  the  Kennebec;  a  few  of  their  number  indeed  actually 
perished  in  the  wilderness.  Thus  disgracefully  has  ended 
the  famous  Penobscot  expedition,  which,  had  a  competent 
force  been  provided,  might  have  terminated  to>  the  glory 
of  Massachusetts.  Those  concerned  in  the  plan  or  its 
execution,  a  few  individuals  excepted,  were  publicly  exe 
crated.  The  expense  attending  the  expedition  is  immense. 
The  fleet  was  invaluable,  and  its  loss  is  altogether  irrepar 
able.  It  was  extremely  fortunate  for  our  regiment  that 
we  were  detained  two  or  three  days  on  our  passage  by 
contrary  winds;  had  there  been  no  impediment  to  our 
voyage,  we  must  inevitably  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy. 

September  3d. — Two  armed  vessels,  accompanied  by  two 
others,  being  perceived  approaching  this  harbor,  excited 
a  great  degree  of  consternation  among  the  inhabitants,  but 
it  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  our  two  continental  frigate^, 
the  Boston  and  the  Dean,  returning  from  a  cruise  with 
two  prizes  of  very  considerable  value,  and  having  on 
board  two  hundred  soldiers  for  the  British  army,  and 
stores  and  goods  to  a  large  amount. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  town  have  shown  us  numerous 
marks  of  respect  and  generous  hospitality.  A  respectable 
committee  of  the  town  have  invited  our  officers  to  a  tavern 
to  partake  of  a  treat  of  punch  and  wine,  in  company  with 
a  number  of  respectable  inhabitants,  and  we  experience 
many  other  polite  civilities,  indicating  a  disposition  to 
contribute  to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  those  who  are 
serving  the  great  cause  of  our  common  country.  Orders 
are  now  received  from  General  Gates  for  our  regiment  to 
return  immediately  to  Boston. 

Commenced  our  march  from  Falmouth  on  the  7th  in 
stant;  passed  through  Scarborough,  Kennebunk  and  York, 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1779.  ^75 

to  Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire.  At  York,  all  the 
officers  of  our  regiment  were  politely  invited  to  an  elegant 
breakfast,  with  the  genteel  and  hospitable  family  of  Mr. 
Sewall.  Having  crossed  the  ferry  at  Portsmouth  on  the 
10th,  we  encamped  on  the  common.  A  number  of  gen 
tlemen  of  this  town  treated  us  with  buckets  of  punch  at 
the  ferry-way,  and  as  we  passed  through  the  streets.  This 
attention  was  extremely  grateful  during  the  heat  and  fa 
tigue  of  the  day.  We  had  the  satisfaction  of  visiting  the 
seventy-four-gun  ship  on  the  stocks  near  this  town;  she 
will  be  ready  for  sea  in  June  next.  This  is  the  first  sev 
enty-four  ever  built  in  America.  On  the  12th,  crossed 
the  ferry  at  Newbury,  and  marched  to  Ipswich  Hamlet, 
passing  through  Salem;  we  reached  Cambridge  on  the 
14th,  arid  encamped  on  the  common.  Accompanied  a 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  to  view  the  colleges,  and 
were  admitted  to  the  library-room  and  museum.  From 
Cambridge  we  marched  to  Dorchester  Point,  where  we 
embarked  in  boats,  crossed  over  to  the  castle,  and  en 
camped.  On  the  18th,  went  with  Colonel  Jackson  to 
Boston  to  attend  the  funeral  of  a  Mr.  Deshon,  a  brother- 
mason.  A  procession  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  the 
brethren  preceded  the  corpse,  and  added  greatly  to  the 
solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

Walking  in  the  street,  I  met  with  James  Otis,  Esq. 
He  has  for  some  time  labored  under  an  unhappy  mental 
derangement.  I  had  no  expectation  that  I  should  be  re 
cognized  by  him,  but  he  accosted  me  in  a  very  familiar 
manner  by  my  Christian  name,  and  inquired  about  my 
connexions.  He  was  inquisitive  respecting  the  affairs  of 
the  army,  and  wished  to  be  informed  whether  I  had  on 
any  occasion  been  exposed  to  personal  danger,  and  whether 
my  courage  had  failed  me.  A  friend  related  to  me  the 
following  anecdote,  which  he  received  from  0.  W.  Esq., 
who  was  present  on  the  occasion:  Mr.  Otis  invited  several 
respectable  gentlemen  to  dinner;  in  carving  at  table,  he 
observed  a  fish  not  sufficiently  boiled,  which  drew  from 
him  some  expressions  of  disapprobation.  His  lady  re 
torted  with  an  air  of  ill-humor.  Mr.  Otis,  wishing  to  avoid 
altercation,  waived  his  rebuke  till  dinner  was  finished, 
when  he  rendered  thanks  to  God  that,  among  other  fa- 


176  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

vors,  the  guests  had  escaped  the  danger  of  having  their 
noses  snapped  off  at  table. 

A  particular  account  of  the  brilliant  achievement  in  the 
capture  of  the  fortress  at  Stony  Point,  by  General  Wayne, 
has  been  obtained.  Stony  Point  is  a  strongly-fortified  post 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  near  King's  ferry.  The 
possession  of  this  post  is  of  vast  importance  to  either  army, 
as  it  completely  commands  the  great  road,  and  the  ferry- 
way  which  affords  communication  between  the  middle  and 
eastern  states.  This  fortress  has  lately  been  visited  by  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  in  person,  and  by  his  orders  strengthened, 
and  rendered,  as  supposed,  entirely  defensible.  General 
Washington  was  extremely  desirous  to  dislodge  the  enemy 
from  this  position,  and  to  Brigadier-General  Wayne  he 
intrusted  the  hazardous  enterprise.  At  the  head  of  his 
detachment  of  light-infantry,  consisting  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred,  he  marched  about  fourteen  miles,  reached 
the  vicinity  of  the  fort  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 
July  the  16th,  and  instantly  prepared  for  the  assault.  He 
peremptorily  ordered  that  every  man  should  advance  in 
silence  with  unloaded  muskets  and  fixed  bayonets.  A 
soldier  disobeyed  his  order,  and  began  to  load  his  piece; 
the  order  was  repeated,  and  he  persisted  in  the  resolution 
to  load,  on  which  an  officer  instantly  run  him  through  the 
body  with  his  sword.  On  no  occasion  is  a  strict  obedience 
to  orders  more  indispensable  than  at  this  critical  moment; 
had  a  single  gun  been  fired,  the  victory  might  have  been 
lost,  or  the  slaughter  been  immense.  The  plan  being  ad 
justed,  one  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers  under  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Fleury,  a  French  gentleman,  formed  the  van 
of  the  right  column,  and  one  hundred  volunteers,  under 
Major  Stuart,  composed  the  van  of  the  left  column,  each 
of  which  was  preceded  by  a  forlorn  hope  of  twenty  picked 
men,  commanded  by  Lieutenants  Gibbon  and  Knox,  for 
the  express  purpose  of  removing  the  abatis  and  other 
obstructions.  At  about  twenty  minutes  after  twelve,  the 
columns  advanced  to  the  assault,  and  such  was  the  impetu 
osity  of  the  troops,  that  in  the  face  of  a  most  tremendous 
and  incessant  fire  of  musketry  and  cannon  loaded  with 
grape-shot,  they  forced  their  way  at  the  point  of  the  bay 
onet,  surmounted  every  obstacle,  and  both  columns  met 
in  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  works  nearly  at  the  same 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1779. 

instant.  Colonel  Fleury  first  entered  the  fort,  and  struck 
their  standard  with  his  own  hand.  Major  Posey  was  the 
first  to  give  the  watch-word,  "The  fort's  our  own."  Gen 
eral  Wayne,  in  his  letter  to  the  commander-in-chief,  extols 
highly  the  brave  conduct  of  his  officers  and  men,  and  par 
ticularizes  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fleury,  Major  Stuart,  Col 
onels  Butler,  Hull,  Meigs  and  Febiger,  for  their  exemplary 
valor  and  intrepidity.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hay  was 
wounded  in  the  thigh,  while  fighting  with  firmness  in  the 
heat  of  the  action.  General  Wayne  himself  received  a 
slight  wound  in  his  head,  but,  supported  by  his  aids,  he 
entered  the  fort  with  the  troops.  The  truly  brave  are 
ever  ambitious  of  distinguishing  themselves  by  a  nice  ob 
servance  of  the  laws  of  humanity  and  generosity  towards 
the  conquered  foe.  It  is  highly  creditable  to  our  troops, 
that  they  conducted  towards  the  prisoners  with  a  humane 
forbearance,  which  is  directly  the  reverse  of  the  conduct  of 
the  British  on  too  many  similar  occasions;  they  disdained 
to  take  the  lives  of  those  who  were  in  their  power,  and 
calling  for  mercy;  not  an  individual  suffered  after  their 
surrender,  and  this  will  account  for  the  few  of  the  enemy 
killed  on  this  occasion;  being  about  one  hundred  killed 
and  wounded.  The  continentals  had  fifteen  killed  and 
eighty-three  wounded.  The  number  of  prisoners  was  five 
hundred  and  forty-three.  Colonel  Johnson,  commander 
of  the  fort,  and  several  other  officers,  were  among  the 
number.  It  is  remarkable  that  out  of  the  twenty  men 
who  formed  the  forlorn  hope,  under  Lieutenant  Gibbon, 
seventeen  were  killed  or  wounded. 

General  Washington's  letter  to  Congress  applauds  the 
conduct  of  all  the  officers  and  men ;  but  he  names  partic 
ular  officers,  whose  situation  placed  them  foremost  in 
danger,  which  rendered  their  conduct  more  conspicuous. 
Lieutenants  Gibbon  and  Knox,  he  observes,  who  com 
manded  the  advanced  parties,  or  forlorn  hope,  acquitted 
themselves  as  well  as  it  was  possible.  With  respect  to 
General  Wayne,  he  observes,  "that  his  conduct  throughout 
the  whole  of  this  arduous  enterprise,  merits  the  warmest 
approbation  of  Congress ;  he  improved  on  the  plan  recom 
mended  by  me,  and  executed  it  in  a  manner  that  does 
signal  honor  to  his  judgment  and  to  his  bravery.  In  a 
critical  moment  of  the  assault,  he  received  a  flesh-wound 


178  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

in  the  head,  with  a  musket-ball,  but  continued  leading  on 
his  men  with  unshaken  firmness."  His  excellency  in 
formed  Congress  that  two  flags  and  two  standards  were 
taken,  the  former  belonging  to  the  garrison,  the  latter  to 
the  17th  regiment.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hull,  at  the  head 
of  four  hundred  light-infantry,  displayed  a  noble  gallantry, 
for  which  he  received  the  thanks  of  General  Wayne  and 
of  Washington. 

As  distinguishing  marks  of  approbation,  Congress  di 
rected  that  a  gold  medal,  emblematical  of  the  action,  be 
presented  to  Brigadier-General  Wayne,  and  a  silver  one 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fleury  and  Major  Stuart,  and  bre 
vets  of  captain  given  to  Lieutenants  Gibbon  and  Knox, 
and  that  the  value  of  the  military  stores  taken,  should  be 
divided  among  the  gallant  troops  who  reduced  Stony 
Point,  in  such  a  manner  as  the  commander-in-chief  should 
prescribe. 

The  fortifications  at  Paulus  Hook,  on  the  west  side  of 
North  river,  opposite  New  York  city,  was  taken  by  Major 
Lee  of  the  horse.  The  garrison  made  a  faint  resistance 
and  surrendered.  Major  Southerland  and  about  fifteen 
of  his  men  escaped  to  a  small  block-house.  The  approach 
of  day,  and  the  vicinity  of  the  main  body  of  the  enemy, 
made  it  impossible  to  bring  off  any  stores.  The  conti 
nentals  had  possession  of  all  the  artillery  and  magazine; 
the  prisoners  were  one  hundred  and  thirty-four,  rank  and 
file,  and  seven  officers;  about  forty  were  killed.  Major 
Lee's  loss  is  said  to  be  very  few  in  killed  and  wounded; 
four  only  is  the  number  mentioned. 

According  to  orders  from  General  Gates,  our  regiment 
left  Castle  William  on  the  26th,  and  arrived  at  Providence 
on  the  28th  instant,  and  encamped  at  Fox's  Point.  Sun 
day  I  rode  with  several  officers  to  Pawtuxet,  to  attend  the 
religious  services  of  the  celebrated  Mr.  Murray,  whose 
professed  doctrine  is  the  universal  salvation  of  mankind. 
Mr.  Murray  is  not  admitted  into  the  pulpits  of  the  ortho 
dox  clergy;  his  peculiar  sentiments  are  revolting  to  the 
consciences,  and  repugnant  to  the  belief  of  a  large  propor 
tion  of  the  people  of  New  England.  In  this  village  the 
people  are  destitute  of  an  ordained  minister.  The  audience 
was  numerous,  and  the  preacher  peculiarly  eloquent; 
freely  and  solemnly  declaring  the  sentiments  which  he 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1779.  179 

Las  adopted,  and  quoting  various  portions  of  Scripture  to 
enforce  a  belief  in  the  opinion  which  his  own  conscience 
and  judgment  approve. 

General  Prescott,  who  was  taken  at  Rhode  Island  by 
Colonel  Barton,  on  his  route  through  Connecticut,  called 
at  a  tavern  to  dine ;  the  landlady  brought  on  the  table  a 
dish  of  succotash  (boiled  corn  and  beans).  The  general, 
unaccustomed  to  such  kind  of  food,  with  much  warmth 
exclaimed,  "What!  do  you  treat  us  with  the  food  of 
hogs?"  and  taking  the  dish  from  the  table,  emptied  the 
contents  over  the  floor.  The  landlord,  being  informed  of 
this,  soon  entered  with  his  horsewhip,  and  gave  the  gen 
eral  a  severe  chastisement.  After  the  general  was  ex 
changed,  and  he  resumed  his  command  on  the  island,  the 
inhabitants  of  Nantucket  deputed  Dr.  Gilston  to  negotiate 
some  concerns  with  General  Prescott,  in  behalf  of  the 
town.  Prescott  treated  the  doctor  very  cavalierly,  and 
gave  as  the  cause,  that  the  doctor  looked  so  like  that  d — d 
landlord  who  horsewhipped  him  in  Connecticut,  that  he 
could  not  treat  him  with  civility. 

When  the  Count  D'Estaing's  fleet  appeared  near  the 
British  batteries,  in  the  harbor  of  Rhode  Island,  a  severe 
cannonade  was  commenced,  and  several  shot  passed  through 
the  houses  in  town,  and  occasioned  great  consternation 
among  the  inhabitants.  A  shot  passed  through  the  door 
of  Mrs.  Mason's  house,  just  above  the  floor.  The  fam 
ily  were  alarmed,  not  knowing  where  to  flee  for  safety. 
A  negro  man  ran  and  sat  himself  down  very  composedly, 
with  his  back  against  the  shot-hole  in  the  door,  and  being 
asked  by  young  Mr.  Mason  why  he  chose  that  situation,  he 
replied,  "  Massa,  you  never  know  two  bullet  go  in  one  place." 

October. — Information  is  received  that  the  enemy  are 
preparing  to  evacuate  the  town  of  Newport.  They  have 
burned  the  light-house,  blown  up  some  of  their  works,  and 
embarked  their  heavy  baggage. 

16th. — It  is  ascertained  that  the  British  have  abandoned 
the  town  of  Newport,  and  that  some  of  our  troops  have 
taken  possession  of  the  town.  It  is  but  justice  to  remark, 
that  the  enemy  left  the  town  in  good  condition,  and  that 
they  treated  the  inhabitants  with  civility.  They  left  a 
large  quantity  of  hay,  wood,  and  military  stores.  Our 
regiment  is  under  marching  orders. 


180  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

November. — In  obedience  to  orders,  we  inarched  from 
Providence  on  the  8th  instant,  passing  through  the  towns 
of  Coventry,  Windham,  Bolton,  Hartford,  Woodbury,  and 
Newtown,  and  arrived  at  Danbury,  (Conn.,)  on  the  23d. 
Oar  regiment  is  united  with  General  Stark's  brigade,  the 
whole  of  which  is  now  billeted  in  private  houses.  Dan- 
bury  was  formerly  a  flourishing  town,  but  the  principal 
part  of  it  has  been  destroyed  by  the  enemy.  A  soldier 
having  anointed  himself  for  the  itch,  with  mercurial  oint 
ment,  last  night,  was  found  dead  this  morning;  and  an 
other  suffered  the  same  fate,  in  consequence  of  drinking 
six  gills  of  rum.  Our  troops  have  suffered  greatly  by 
snow  and  rain,  and  excessively  bad  travelling,  since  we 
left  Providence. 

December. — Our  brigade  left  Danbury  on  the  5th  instant. 
It  snowed  all  the  afternoon,  and  we  took  shelter  in  the 
woods  at  Cortland's  manor.  Having  no  other  shelter  than 
bushes  thrown  together,  we  passed  a  very  cold,  uncom 
fortable  night.  Marched  the  next  day  through  a  deep 
snow,  and  took  lodgings  at  night  in  private  houses  at 
Crompond;  marched  again  early,  crossed  the  Hudson  at 
King's  ferry,  and  proceeded  twenty  miles,  it  being  late  at 
night  before  our  men  could  all  find  accommodations  in 
the  scattering  houses  and  barns  on  the  road.  I  visited 
my  friend  Doctor  S.  Findley,  of  General  Glover's  brigade, 
and  being  invited  to  breakfast,  the  only  food  he  could 
furnish  was  coffee,  without  milk  or  sugar,  and  meagre 
beef-steaks,  without  bread  or  even  salt.  Such  has  been 
for  some  time  the  unaccountable  scarcity  of  provisions  in 
the  main  army.  We  marched  to  Pompton  on  the  9th, 
and  on  the  14th  reached  this  wilderness,  about  three  miles 
from  Morristown,  where  we  are  to  build  log-huts  for  win 
ter-quarters.  Our  baggage  is  left  in  the  rear,  for  want  of 
wagons  to  transport  it.  The  snow  on  the  ground  is  about 
two  feet  deep,  and  the  weather  extremely  cold;  the  sol 
diers  are  destitute  of  both  tents  and  blankets,  and  some 
of  them  are  actually  barefooted  and  almost  naked.  Our 
only  defence  against  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  con 
sists  of  brush-wood  thrown  together.  Our  lodging  the  last 
night  was  on  the  frozen  ground.  Those  officers  who  have 
the  privilege  of  a  horse,  can  always  have  a  blanket  at 
hand.  Having  removed  the  snow,  we  wrapped  ourselves 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

in  great-coats,  spread  our  blankets  on  the  ground,  and  lay 
down  by  the  side  of  each  other  five  or  six  together,  with 
large  fires  at  our  feet,  leaving  orders  with  the  waiters  to 
keep  it  well  supplied  with  fuel  during  the  night.  We 
could  procure  neither  shelter  nor  forage  for  our  horses, 
and  the  poor  animals  were  tied  to  trees  in  the  woods  for 
twenty-four  hours  without  food,  except  the  bark  which 
they  peeled  from  the  trees.  Lieutenant  W.  and  myself 
rode  to  Morristown,  where  we  dined,  and  fed  our  starving 
horses  at  a  tavern.  General  Washington  has  taken  his 
head-quarters  at  Morristown,  and  the  whole  army  in  this 
department  are  to  be  employed  in  building  log  huts  for 
winter-quarters.  The  ground  is  marked  out,  and  the  sol 
diers  have  commenced  cutting  down  the  timber  of  oak 
and  walnut,  of  which  we  have  a  great  abundance.  Our 
baggage  has  at  length  arrived,  the  men  find  it  very  diffi 
cult  to  pitch  their  tents  on  the  frozen  ground,  and  notwitL 
standing  large  fires,  we  can  scarcely  keep  from  freezing. 
In  addition  to  other  sufferings,  the  whole  army  has  been 
for  seven  or  eight  days  entirely  destitute  of  the  staff'  of 
life ;  our  only  food  is  miserable  fresh  beef,  without  bread, 
salt,  or  vegetables. 

It  is  a  circumstance  greatly  to  be  deprecated,  that  the 
army,  who  are  devoting  their  lives  and  every  thing  dear 
to  the  defence  of  our  country's  freedom,  should  be  sub 
jected  to  such  unparalleled  privations,  while  in  the  midst 
of  a  country  abounding  in  every  kind  of  provisions.  The 
time  has  before  occurred  when  the  army  was  on  the  point 
of  dissolution  for  the  want  of  provisions,  and  it  is  to  be 
ascribed  to  their  patriotism,  and  to  a  sense  of  honor  and 
duty,  that  they  have  not  long  since  abandoned  the  cause 
of  their  country.  The  heroic  fortitude  with  which  our 
officers  and  soldiers  support  their  distresses,  proclaims 
their  fidelity  and  intrinsic  merit.  Besides  the  evils  above 
mentioned,  we  experience  another,  in  the  rapid  deprecia 
tion  of  the  continental  money,  which  we  receive  for  our 
pay ;  it  is  now  estimated  at  about  thirty  for  one.  It  is 
from  this  cause,  according  to  report,  that  our  commissary- 
general  is  unable  to  furnish  the  army  with  a  proper  supply 
of  provisions.  The  people  in  the  country  are  unwilling 
to  sell  the  produce  of  their  farms  for  this  depreciated  cur 
rency,  and  both  the  resources  and  the  credit  of  our  Con- 


182  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

gress  appear  to  be  almost  exhausted.  The  year  is  now 
closed,  and  with  it  expires  the  term  of  enlistment  of  a 
considerable  number  of  our  soldiers;  new  conditions  are 
offered  them  to  encourage  their  reenlistment  during  the 
war;  but  such  are  the  numerous  evils  which  they  have 
hitherto  experienced,  that  it  is  feared  but  a  small  propor 
tion  of  them  will  reenlist.  Should  these  apprehensions  be 
realized,  the  fate  of  our  country,  and  the  destiny  of  its 
present  rulers  and  friends,  will  soon  be  decided. 

It  has  hitherto  been  our  grievous  misfortune,  that  the 
several  states  have  attempted  to  supply  their  quota  of  the 
army  by  short  enlistments.  No  fact  is  more  susceptible 
of  demonstration,  than  that  enlisting  or  draughting  men 
for  nine  months  or  one  year  never  fails  of  being  attended 
with  disappointment  and  a  train  of  pernicious  consequen 
ces.  General  Washington  has,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
contest,  most  pointedly  protested  against  it,  and  labored 
with  unwearied  assiduity  to  induce  the  states  to  adopt  a 
more  just  and  permanent  system.  By  the  present  mode, 
the  strength  of  the  army  is  continually  precarious  and 
fluctuating;  the  recruits  have  scarcely  time  to  learn  the 
discipline  and  police  of  a  camp,  before  they  are  at  liberty 
to  return  to  their  farms,  and  their  places  are  supplied  by 
others  who  require  the  same  course  of  instruction.  The 
consequence  is,  that  but  a  small  proportion  of  our  troops 
are  inured  to  actual  service,  they  are  continually  liable  to 
camp  diseases,  and  are  undeserving  of  confidence  in  the 
most  critical  moments  of  the  campaign.  Another  discour 
aging  circumstance  attending  this  mode  of  recruiting  the 
army  is,  the  great  inequality  of  the  bounties  given  to  the 
soldiers  at  different  times,  and  the  disparity  in  the  provi 
sion  made  by  the  several  states,  which  occasions  murmurs 
and  discontent  among  their  respective  troops.  It  is  con 
sistency  and  stability  that  give  character  and  efficiency  to 
an  arrny,  and  this  has  ever  been  the  great  desideratum  in 
the  view  of  our  commander-in-chief.  The  state  of  Massa 
chusetts,  in  order  to  fill  up  their  regiments,  have  offered 
a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars,  in  addition  to  the  con 
tinental  bounty  of  two  hundred  dollars,  to  induce  men  to 
enlist  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war. 

Intelligence  has  been  received  from  Savannah,  Georgia, 
which  city  has  for  some  time  been  in  the  possession  of  the 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

enemy,  under  command  of  General  Prevost.  Major-Gen 
eral  Lincoln  is  commander-in-chief  of  our  army  in  that 
department.  The  Count  D'Estaing  had  arrived  there  with 
a  French  fleet  and  a  body  of  troops.  With  these  forces, 
combined  with  the  Americans,  the  two  commanders,  after 
having  besieged  the  city  for  some  time,  resolved  on  the 
almost  desperate  resolution  of  possessing  it  by  assault. 
The  allied  force  consisted  of  between  four  and  five  thou 
sand  men.  General  Lincoln  and  Count  D'Estaing  led  their 
respective  troops  to  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  with  the  most 
signal  firmness  and  intrepidity,  and  faced  their  fire  for 
about  fifty-five  minutes,  when  they  were  repulsed  with 
considerable  loss.  Count  D'Estaing  received  two  slight 
wounds ;  more  than  six  hundred  of  his  brave  troops,  and 
about  one  hundred  and  seventy  continentals  were  killed 
or  wounded.  Count  Pulaski,  a  brigadier-general  in  our 
service,  at  the  head  of  two  hundred  horsemen,  was  in  full 
gallop,  with  the  intention  of  charging  the  enemy  in  the 
rear,  when  he  received  a  mortal  wound.  This  gentleman 
was  a  Polander,  of  distinguished  rank  and  character; 
having  viewed  the  American  cause  in  a  favorable  light, 
he  offered  his  services  to  our  Congress,  who  appointed  him 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  has  by  his  active  and 
enterprising  spirit  rendered  essential  service  to  our  army, 
and  his  death  is  universally  lamented. 

During  the  siege  of  Savannah,  an  event  occured,  sin 
gularly  honorable  to  an  enterprising  individual,  which 
should  never  be  forgotten.  A  captain  of  Colonel  Delany's 
battalion  of  refugee  troops,  with  about  one  hundred  Amer 
ican  royal  regulars,  was  posted  near  a  river  twenty-five 
miles  from  Savannah,  where  were  four  armed  British  ves 
sels,  manned  with  about  forty  sailors.  Colonel  John 
White,  of  the  Georgia  line,  was  desirous  of  the  honoi  of 
capturing  this  party;  his  whole  force,  however,  consisted 
of  no  more  than  six  volunteers,  including  his  own  servant; 
it  was  only  by  a  well-concerted  stratagem,  therefore,  that 
he  could  hope  for  success.  In  the  night,  he  kindled  a 
number  of  fires,  in  different  places,  and  exhibited  the 
appearance  of  a  large  encampment,  and  having  arranged 
his  plan,  he  summoned  the  captain  to  surrender,  threaten 
ing  his  entire  destruction,  by  a  superior  force,  in  case  of 
a  refusal.  Intimidated,  and  deceived  by  appearances,  the 


134  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

captain  immediately  signified  his  readiness  to  comply  with 
the  demand,  and  made  no  further  defence.  The  Amer 
ican  captain,  White,  had  now  the  satisfaction,  by  his  pe 
culiar  address,  to  see  the  whole  of  the  prisoners,  amounting 
to  one  hundred  and  forty,  divest  themselves  of  their  arms, 
and  submit  to  himself  and  his  six  volunteers.  The  pris 
oners  were  afterwards  safely  conducted  by  three  of  the 
captors  for  twenty-five  miles  through  the  country,  to  an 
American  post.  During  the  present  month,  one  Hessian 
lieutenant  and  seven  Hessian  soldiers,  and  four  British, 
deserted  from  the  enemy  at  New  York.  The  lieutenant 
pretended  to  desire  to  enter  our  service  as  a  volunteer, 
but  deserters  are  generally  suspicious  or  worthless  charac 
ters,  undeserving  of  attention.  One  of  the  British  desert 
ers  pretended  to  be  a  prophet,  but  probably  a  disguised  spy. 

January  \st,  1780. — A  new  year  commences,  but  brings 
no  relief  to  the  sufferings  and  privations  of  our  army. 
Our  canvas  covering  affords  but  a  miserable  security  from 
storms  of  rain  and  snow,  and  a  great  scarcity  of  provi 
sions  still  prevails,  and  its  effects  are  felt  even  at  head 
quarters,  as  appears  by  the  following  anecdote:  "We 
have  nothing  but  the  rations  to  cook,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Thom 
son,  a  very  worthy  Irish  woman  and  house-keeper  to  Gen 
eral  Washington. — "Well,  Mrs.  Thomson,  you  must  then 
cook  the  rations,  for  I  have  not  a  farthing  to  give  you." — 
"If  you  please,  sir,  let  one  of  the  gentlemen  give  me  an 
order  for  six  bushels  of  salt." — "Six  bushels  of  salt!  for 
what?" — To  preserve  the  fresh  beef,  sir."  One  of  the  aids 
gave  the  ord*er,  and  the  next  day  his  excellency's  table 
was  amply  provided.  Mrs.  Thomson  was  sent  for,  and  told 
that  she  had  done  very  wrong  to  expend  her  own  money, 
for  it  was  not  known  when  she  could  be  repaid.  "I  owe 
you,"  said  his  excellency,  "too  much  already  to  permit 
the  debt  being  increased,  and  our  situation  is  not  at  this 
moment  such  as  to  induce  very  sanguine  hope." — "Dear 
sir,"  said  the  good  old  lady,  "it  is  always  darkest  just  be 
fore  day-light,  and  I  hope  your  excellency  will  forgive  me 
for  bartering  the  salt  for  other  necessaries  which  are  now 
on  the  table."  Salt  was  eight  dollars  a  bushel,  and  it  might 
always  be  exchanged  with  the  country  people  for  articles 
of  provision. 

The  weather  for  several  days  has  been  remarkably  cold 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

and  stormy.     On  the  3d  instant,  we  experienced  one  of 
the  most  tremendous  snow-storms  ever  remembered;  no 
man  could  endure  its  violence  many  minutes  without  dan 
ger  of  his  life.     Several  marquees  were  torn  asunder  and 
blown  down  over  the  officers'  heads  in  the  night,  and  some 
of  the  soldiers  were  actually  covered  while  in  their  tents, 
and  buried  like  sheep  under  the  snow.     My  comrades  and 
myself  were  roused  from  sleep«by  the  calls  of  some  officers 
for  assistance;  their  marquee  had  blown  down,  and  they 
were  almost  smothered  in  the  storm,  before  they  could 
reach  our  marquee,  only  a  few  yards,  and  their  blankets 
and  baggage  were  nearly  buried  in  the  snow.     We  are 
greatly  favored  in  having  a  supply  of  straw  for  bedding; 
over  this  we  spread  all  our  blankets,  and  with  our  clothes 
and  large  fires  at  our  feet,  while  four  or  five  are  crowded 
together,  preserve  ourselves  from  freezing.     But  the  suf 
ferings  of  the  poor  soldiers  can  scarcely  be  described,  while 
on  duty  they  are  unavoidably  exposed  to  all  the  inclem 
ency  of  storms  and  severe  cold ;  at  night  they  now  have 
a  bed  of  straw  on  the  ground,  and  a  single  blanket  to  each 
man ;  they  are  badly  clad,  and  some  are  destitute  of  shoes. 
We  have  contrived  a  kind  of  stone  chimney  outside,  and 
an  "opening  at  one  end  of  our  tents  gives  us  the  benefit  of 
the  fire  within.     The  snow  is  now  from  four  to  six  feet 
deep,  which  so  obstructs  the  roads  as  to  prevent  our  receiv 
ing  a  supply  of  provisions.     For  the  last  ten  days  we  have 
received  but  two  pounds  of  meat  a  man,  and  we  are  fre 
quently  for  six  or  eight  days  entirely  destitute  of  meat, 
and  then  as  long  without  bread.     The  consequence  is,  the 
soldiers  are  so  enfeebled  from  hunger  and  cold,  as  to  be 
almost  unable  to  perform  their  military  duty,  or  labor  in 
constructing  their  huts.     It  is  well  known  that  General 
Washington  experiences  the  greatest  solicitude  for  the  suf 
ferings  of  his  army,  and  is  sensible  that  they  in  general 
conduct  with  heroic  patience  and  fortitude.     His  excel 
lency,  it  is  understood,  despairing  of  supplies  from  the 
commissary-general,  has  made  application  to  the  magis 
trates  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey  for  assistance  in  procuring 
provisions.     This  expedient  has  been  attended  with  the 
nappiest  success.     It  is  honorable  to  the  magistrates  and 
people  of  Jersey,  that  they  have  cheerfully  complied  with 
the  requisition,  and  furnished  for  the  present  an  ample 


186  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

supply,  and  have  thus  probably  saved  the  army  from 
destruction. 

As  if  to  make  up  the  full  measure  of  grief  and  embar 
rassment  to  the  commander-in-chief,  repeated  complaints 
have  been' made  to  him  that  some  of  the  soldiers  are  in  the 
practice  of  pilfering  and  plundering  the  inhabitants  of  their 
poultry,  sheep,  pigs,  and  even  their  cattle,  from  their 
farms.  This  marauding  practice  has  often  been  prohibited 
in  general  orders,  under  the  severest  penalties,  and  some 
exemplary  punishments  have  been  inflicted.  General 
Washington  possesses  an  inflexible  firmness  of  purpose, 
and  is  determined  that  discipline  and  subordination  in 
camp  shall  be  rigidly  enforced  and  maintained.  The 
whole  army  has  been  sufficiently  warned,  and  cautioned 
against  robbing  the  inhabitants  on  any  pretence  whatever, 
and  no  soldier  is  subjected  to  punishment  without  a  fair 
trial,  and  conviction  by  a  court-martial.  Death  has  been 
inflicted  in  a  few  instances  of  an  atrocious  nature;  but  in 
general,  the  punishment  consists  in  a  public  whipping,  and 
the  number  of  stripes  is  proportioned  to  the  degree  of 
offence.  The  law  of  Moses  prescribes  forty  stripes  save 
one,  but  this  number  has  often  been  exceeded  in  our 
camp.  In  aggravated  cases,  and  with  old  offenders,  the 
culprit  is  sentenced  to  receive  one  hundred  lashes,  or  more. 
It  is  always  the  duty  of  the  drummers  and  fifers  to  inflict 
the  chastisement,  and  the  drum-major  must  attend  and 
see  that  the  duty  is  faithfully  performed.  The  culprit 
being  securely  tied  to  a  tree,  or  post,  receives  on  his  naked 
back  the  number  of  lashes  assigned  him,  by  a  whip  formed 
of  several  small  knotted  cords,  which  sometimes  cut 
through  the  skin  at  every  stroke.  However  strange  it 
may  appear,  a  soldier  will  often  receive  the  severest 
stripes  without  uttering  a  groan,  or  once  shrinking  from 
the  lash,  even  while  the  blood  flows  freely  from  his  lace 
rated  wounds.  This  must  be  ascribed  to  stubbornness  or 
pride.  They  have,  however,  adopted  a  method  which  they 
say  mitigates  the  anguish  in  some  measure :  it  is  by  putting 
between  the  teeth  a  leaden  bullet,  on  which  they  chew 
while  under  the  lash,  till  it  is  made  quite  flat  and  jagged. 
In  some  instances  of  incorrigible  villains,  it  is  adjudged 
by  the  court  that  the  culprit  receive  his  punishment  at 
several  different  times,  a  certain  number  of  stripes  repeated 


MARQUIS  DE   LA   FAYETTE. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days,  in  which  case  the  wounds 
are  in  a  state  of  inflammation,  and  the  skin  rendered  more 
sensibly  tender;  and  the  terror  of  the  punishment  is 
greatly  aggravated.  Another  mode  of  punishment  is  that 
of  running  the  gauntlet:  this  is  done  by  a  company  of  sol 
diers  standing  in  two  lines,  each  one  furnished  with  a 
switch,  and  the  criminal  is  made  to  run  between  them 
and  receive  the  scourge  from  their  hands  on  his  naked 
back;  but  the  delinquent  runs  so  rapidly,  and  the  soldiers 
are  so  apt  to  favor  a  comrade,  that  it  often  happens  in 
this  way  that  the  punishment  is  very  trivial;  but  on  some 
occasions,  a  soldier  is  ordered  to  hold  a  bayonet  at  his 
breast  to  impede  his  steps.  If  a  non-commissioned  officer 
is  sentenced  to  corporeal  punishment,  he  is  always  de 
graded  to  the  soldier's  rank.  The  practice  of  corporeal 
punishment  in  an  army  has  become  a  subject  of  animad 
version,  and  both  the  policy  and  propriety  of  the  measure 
have  been  called  in  question.  It  may  be  observed  that 
the  object  of  punishment  is  to  exhibit  examples,  to  deter 
others  from  committing  crimes;  that  corporeal  punishment 
may  be  made  sufficiently  severe  as  a  commutation  for  the 
punishment  of  death  in  ordinary  cases;  it  is  more  humane, 
and  by  saving  the  life  of  a  soldier,  we  prevent  the  loss  of 
his  services  to  the  public.  In  justification  of  the  practice, 
it  is  alleged,  also,  that  in  the  British  army  it  has  long  been 
established  in  their  military  code,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
to  sentence  a  criminal  to  receive  a  thousand  lashes,  and 
that  they  aggravate  its  horrors  in  the  most  cruel  manner, 
by  repeating  the  stripes  from  day  to  day,  before  the  wounds 
are  healed ;  and  instances  are  not  wanting  of  its  having 
been  attended  with  fatal  consequences.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  is  objected  that  corporeal  punishment  is  disre 
putable  to  an  army ;  it  will  never  reclaim  the  unprincipled 
villain,  and  it  has  a  tendency  to  repress  the  spirit  of  am 
bition  and  enterprise  in  the  young  soldier;  and  the  indi 
vidual  thus  ignominiously  treated,  can  never,  in  case  of 
promotion  for  meritorious  services,  be  received  with  com 
placency  as  a  companion  for  other  officers.  These  objec 
tions  will  apply  to  most  other  modes  of  punishment,  and 
it  remains  to  be  decided,  which  is  the  most  eligible  for 
the  purpose  of  maintaining  that  subordination  so  indis 
pensable  in  all  armies. 
13 


138  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1780. 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  difficulties  and  discour 
agements  with  which  our  army  have  been  compelled  to 
struggle,  we  are  happy  to  find  that  a  considerable  propor 
tion  of  those  soldiers  whose  terms  of  enlistment  have  lately 
expired,  have  reenlisted  during  the  continuance  of  the 
war.  It  may  seem  extraordinary  that  those  who  have 
experienced  such  accumulated  distress  and  privations, 
should  voluntarily  engage  again  in  the  same  service.  But 
amid  all  the  toils  and  hardships,  there  are  charms  in  a 
military  life:  it  is  here  that  we  witness  heroic  actions  and 
deeds  of  military  glory.  The  power  of  habit  and  the  spirit 
of  ambition,  pervade  the  soldiers'  ranks,  and  those  who 
have  been  accustomed  to  active  scenes,  and  formed  their 
social  attachments,  cannot  without  reluctance  quit  the 
tumult  and  the  bustle  of  a  camp,  for  the  calm  and  quiet 
of  domestic  pursuits.  There  is  to  be  found,  however,  in 
the  bosorn  of  our  soldiers  the  purest  principles  of  patriot 
ism:  they  glory  in  the  noble  cause  of  their  country,  and 
pride  themselves  in  contributing  to  its  successful  termina 
tion.  It  is  hoped  they  will  not  again  be  subjected  to  a 
starving  condition. 

17th. — A  detachment,  consisting  of  about  two  thousand 
five  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Major-General 
Lord  Stirling,  was  a  few  days  since  sent  off  in  about  five 
hundred  sleighs  on  a  secret  expedition.  The  sleighs  were 
procured,  and  preparations  made,  under  the  pretence  of 
going  into  the  country  after  provisions.  It  is  now  ascer 
tained  that  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  attack  the 
enemy  in  their  works  on  Staten  Island,  by  surprise.  Our 
party  passed  over  on  the  ice  from  Elizabethtown  in  the 
night,  but  the  enemy  having  received  intelligence  of  their 
design,  retired  into  their  strong  works  for  safety,  and  the 
object  of  the  enterprise  was  unfortunately  defeated;  they, 
however,  brought  off  a  quantity  of  blankets  and  stores. 
The  snow  was  three  or  four  feet  deep,  and  the  weather 
extremely  cold,  and  our  troops  continued  on  the  island 
twenty-four  hours  without  covering,  and  about  five  hun 
dred  were  slightly  frozen,  and  six  were  killed  by  a  party 
of  horse,  who  pursued  our  rear-guard.  A  number  of 
tents,  arms,  and  a  quantity  of  baggage,  with  several  casks 
of  wine  and  spirits,  were  brought  off,  with  sevnteen 
prisoners. 


MILITARY  JOUBXAL,  1780. 

27th. — A  party  of  the  enemy  made  an  excursion  from 
Staten  Island  in  the  night,  surprised  our  picket-guard,  and 
succeeded  in  taking  off  a  major  and  forty  men.  Oar  offi 
cers  were  censured  for  their  conduct  in  not  being  suffi 
ciently  alert  to  guard  against  a  surprise.  We  are  now 
rejoicing  in  having  a  plentiful  supply  of  provisions  and 
a  favorable  prospect  of  a  full  supply  in  future.  Our  log 
huts  are  almost  completed,  and  we  promise  ourselves  very 
comfortable  quarters  for  the  remainder  of  the  winter. 

A  detachment  of  eighty  men,  levies  and  volunteers,  un 
der  command  of  Captains  Keeler  and  Lockwood,  marched 
to  Morrissania  in  the  night,  and  made  an  attack  on  Colonel 
Hatfield.  The  colonel  and  his  men  took  to  the  chambers, 
and  fired  out  of  the  windows  and  down  stairs  at  those  who 
entered  the  house.  Our  party  found  it  almost  impossible 
to  dislodge  them  till  they  set  fire  to  the  house  by  putting 
a  straw  bed  into  a  closet  while  in  blaze,  which  compelled 
them  to  jump  out  at  the  chamber-windows  to  avoid  the 
flames.  Colonel  Hatfield,  one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  and 
one  quarter-master,  and  eleven  private  soldiers  were  taken 
and  brought  off. 

"We  are  just  informed  that  on  the  first  of  this  month 
about  two  hundred  soldiers  of  the  Massachusetts  line,  who 
were  stationed  at  West  Point,  pretending  that  their  term 
of  enlistment  had  expired,  marched  off  with  the 'intention 
of  going  home.  A  party  of  troops  were  despatched  after 
them,  and  they  were  brought  back.  Several  soldiers  from 
other  posts  followed  their  example.  The  subject  being 
investigated  by  the  proper  officers,  it  was  found  that  many 
of  them  had  several  months  to  serve:  some  of  these  were 
punished,  and  the  remainder  returned  to  their  duty. 
Those  whose  term  had  actually  expired  were  discharged. 
During  the  present  month  a  considerable  number  of 
deserters,  both  British  and  Hessians,  have  come  from 
the  enemy. 

February. — Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson  had  the  com 
mand  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  as  an  advanced 
part}r,  on  our  lines.  He  was  instructed  to  be  constantly 
alert  and  in  motion,  that  the  enemy  might  not  be  able  to 
take  advantage,  and  form  a  plan  for  his  destruction.  It 
happened,  however,  that  a  detachment  of  British,  Hessians, 
and  mounted  refugees,  were  discovered  advancing  towards 


MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1780. 

him,  but  on  account  of  a  very  deep  snow  obstructing  the 
road,  they  marched  slowly,  and  Colonel  Thompson  re 
solved  to  defend  his  ground.  The  enemy's  horse  first 
advanced,  and  commenced  skirmishing  till  their  infantry 
approached,  when  a  sharp  conflict  ensued,  which  continued 
about  fifteen  minutes;  some  of  our  troops  manifested 
symptoms  of  cowardice,  and  gave  way.  The  enemy  se 
cured  the  advantage,  and  rushed  on  with  a  general  shout, 
which  soon  decided  the  contest.  The  Americans  lost 
thirteen  men  killed,  and  Captain  Koberts,  being  mortally 
wounded,  soon  expired;  seventeen  others  were  wounded. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson  and  six  other  officers,  with 
with  eighty-nine  rank  and  file,  were  made  prisoners.  Of 
the  enemy,  two  officers  and  eighteen  men  were  wounded, 
and  five  men  killed.  One  of  our  men,  by  the  name  of 
May  hew,  of  Massachusetts,  was  pursued  by  two  of  the 
enemy's  horse,  the  snow  being  almost  up  to  his  hips:  they 
gained  fast  on  him;  he  inquired  if  they  would  give  him 
quarter;  they  replied,  "Yes,  you  dog!  we  will  quarter 
you,"  and  this  was  again  repeated.  Mayhew,  in  despair, 
resolving  to  give  them  a  shot  before  he  submitted  to  his 
fate,  turned  and  fired  at  the  first  horseman,  who  cried  out, 
"The  rascal  has  broken  my  leg!"  when  both  of  them 
wheeled  round  and  rode  off,  leaving  Mayhew  to  rejoice  at 
his  fortunate  escape. 

l±th. — Having  continued  to  this  late  season  in  our  tents, 
experiencing  the  greatest  inconvenience,  we  have  now  the 
satisfaction  of  taking  possession  of  the  log  huts,  just  com 
pleted  by  our  soldiers,  where  we  shall  have  more  com 
fortable  accommodations.  Major  Trescott,  Lieutenant 
Williams,  our  pay-master,  and  myself,  occupy  a  hut  with 
one  room,  furnished  with  our  lodging  cabins,  and  crowded 
with  our  baggage. 

20th. — Two  soldiers  were  brought  to  the  gallows  for  the 
crime  of  robbery.  One  of  them  was  pardoned  under  the 
gallows,  and  the  other  executed.  The  poor  criminal  was 
so  dreadfully  tortured  by  the  horror  of  an  untimely  death, 
that  he  was  scarcely  able  to  sustain  himself,  and  the  scene 
excited  the  compassion  of  every  spectator.  It  is  hoped 
that  this  example  will  make  such  an  impression  as  to 
deter  others  from  committing  similar  crimes. 

March. — The  present  winter  is  the  most  severe  and  dis- 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

tressing  which  we  have  ever  experienced.  An  immense 
body  of  snow  remains  on  the  ground.  Our  soldiers  are 
in  a  wretched  condition  for  the  want  of  clothes,  blankets 
and  shoes;  and  these  calamitous  circumstances  are  accom 
panied  by  a  want  of  provisions.  It  has  several  times 
happened  that  the  troops  were  reduced  to  one-half,  or  to 
one-quarter  allowance,  and  some  days  have  passed  without 
any  meat  or  bread  being  delivered  out.  The  causes  as 
signed  for  these  extraordinary  deficiencies,  are  the  very 
low  state  of  the  public  finances,  in  consequence  of  the 
rapid  depreciation  of  the  continental  currency,  and  some 
irregularity  in  the  commissary's  department.  Our  soldiers, 
in  general,  support  their  sufferings  writh  commendable 
firmness,  but  it  is  feared  that  their  patience  will  be  ex 
hausted,  and  very  serious  consequences  ensue. 

April — A  party  of  our  troops  being  stationed  on  the 
line,  under  the  command  of  Major  Boyles,  of  the  Penn 
sylvania  line,  was  unfortunately  surprised  by  the  enemy 
in  the  night.  The  major  defended  himself  in  a  house  till 
he  was  mortally  wounded,  when  he  and  his  guard  surren 
dered.  The  enemy  set  fire  to  several  houses,  and  carried 
off  about  fifty  of  our  men,  and  five  or  six  officers,  among 
whom  is  Ensign  Thacher,  of  our  regiment.  The  militia 
pursued,  and  retook  a  number  of  horses  and  a  quantity 
of  valuable  goods,  which  they  had  plundered  from  the 
inhabitants. 

19th.- — The  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  minister  of  France, 
with  another  French  gentleman,  and  Don  Juan  de  Miralles, 
a  gentleman  of  distinction  from  Spain,  arrived  at  head 
quarters,  from  Philadelphia,  in  company  with  his  Excel 
lency  General  Washington.  Major  Trescott  was  ordered 
out  with  two  hundred  men,  to  meet  and  escort  them  to 
head-quarters,  where  two  battalions  were  paraded  to  re 
ceive  them  with  the  usual  military  honors.  Several  of 
our  general  officers  rode  about  five  miles  to  meet  the  gen 
tlemen,  and  their  arrival  was  announced  by  the  discharge 
of  thirteen  cannon.  The  foreign  gentlemen  and  their 
suites,  having  left  their  carriages,  were  mounted  on  ele 
gant  horses,  which,  with  General  Washington,  the  general 
officers  of  our  army,  with  their  aids  and  servants,  formed 
a  most  splendid  cavalcade,  which  attracted  the  attention 
of  a  vast  concourse  of  spectators.  General  Washington 


192  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

accompanied  his  illustrious  visitors  to  take  a  distant  view 
of  the  enemy's  position  and  works,  on  York  and  Staten 
Island,  and  of  the  different  posts  of  our  army,  while  prepar 
ations  were  making  for  a  grand  field  review  of  our  troops. 

2±th. — A  field  of  parade  being  prepared  under  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Baron  Steuben,  four  battalions  of  our  army 
were  presented  for  review,  by  the  French  minister,  attended 
by  his  excellency  and  our  general  officers.  Thirteen  can 
non,  as  usual,  announced  their  arrival  in  the  field,  and  they 
received  from  the  officers  and  soldiers  the  military  honors 
due  to  their  exalted  rank.  A  large  stage  was  erected  in 
the  field,  which  was  crowded  by  officers,  ladies,  and  gen 
tlemen  of  distinction  from  the  country,  among  whom  were 
Governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey,  and  his  lady.  Our 
troops  exhibited  a  truly  military  appearance,  and  per 
formed  the  manoeuvres  and  evolutions  in  a  manner  which 
afforded  much  satisfaction  to  our  commander-in-chief,  and 
they  were  honored  with  the  approbation  of  the  French 
minister,  and  by  all  present.  After  the  gentlemen  had 
received  the  standing  salute  in  review,  they  dismounted 
and  retired  to  the  stage  with  the  ladies,  and  the  troops 
performed  several  evolutions,  and  paid  the  marching 
salute  as  they  passed  the  stage.  The  minister  of  France 
was  highly  gratified,  and  expressed  to  General  Washington 
his  admiration  at  the  precision  of  their  movements,  and 
the  exactness  of  their  fires,  as  well  as  the  spirit  and  alac 
rity  which  seemed  to  pervade  all  ranks  in  the  army.  In 
the  evening,  General  Washington  and  the  French  minister 
attended  a  ball,  provided  by  our  principal  officers,  at  which 
were  present  a  numerous  collection  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
of  distinguished  character.  Fire-works  were  also  exhib 
ited  by  the  officers  of  the  artillery.  It  is  much  regretted 
that  M.  de  Miralles  is  confined  at  head-quarters  by  indis 
position.  On  the  25th,  the  whole  army  was  paraded  under 
arms,  to  afford  M.  de  la  Luzerne  another  opportunity  of 
reviewing  the  troops;  after  which,  he  was  escorted  part 
of  the  way  to  Philadelphia.  The  Spanish  gentleman  re 
mained  dangerously  sick  of  a  pulmonic  fever  at  head 
quarters,  and  on  the  28th  he  expired. 

29tfi. — I  accompanied  Doctor  Schuyler  to  head-quarters, 
to  attend  the  funeral  of  M.  de  Miralles.  The  deceased 
was  a  gentleman  of  high  rank  in  Spain,  and  had  been 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

about  one  year  a  resident  with  our  Congress,  from  the 
Spanish  court.  The  corpse  was  dressed  in  rich  state,  and 
exposed  to  public  view,  as  is  customary  in  Europe.  The 
coffin  was  most  splendid  and  stately,  lined  throughout 
with  fine  cambric,  and  covered  on  the  outside  with  rich 
black  velvet,  and  ornamented  in  a  superb  manner.  The 
top  of  the  coffin  was  removed,  to  display  the  pomp  and 
grandeur  with  which  the  body  was  decorated.  It  was  in 
a  splendid  full  dress,  consisting  of  a  scarlet  suit,  embroid 
ered  with  rich  gold-lace,  a  three-cornered  gold-laced  hat, 
and  a  genteel  cued  wig,  white  silk  stockings,  large  diamond 
shoe  and  knee-buckles,  a  profusion  of  diamond  rings  dec 
orated  the  fingers,  and  from  a  superb  gold  watch  set  with 
diamonds,  several  rich  seals  were  suspended.  His  Excel 
lency  General  Washington,  with  several  other  general 
officers  and  members  of  Congress,  attended  the  funeral 
solemnities,  and  walked  as  chief  mourners.  The  other 
officers  of  the  army,  and  numerous  respectable  citizens, 
formed  a  splendid  procession,  extending  about  one  mile. 
The  pall-bearers  were  six  field  officers,  and  the  coffin  was 
borne  on  the  shoulders  of  four  officers  of  the  artillery  in 
full  uniform.  Minute-guns  were  fired  during  the  proces 
sion,  which  greatly  increased  the  solemnity  of  the  occa 
sion.  A  Spanish  priest  performed  service  at  the  grave, 
in  the  Roman  Catholic  form.  The  coffin  was  inclosed  in 
a  box  of  plank,  and  all  the  profusion  of  pomp  and  gran.d- 
eur  were  deposited  in  the  silent  grave,  in  the  common 
burying-ground,  near  the  church  at  Morristown.  A  guard 
is  placed  at  the  grave,  lest  our  soldiers  should  be  tempted 
to  dig  for  hidden  treasure.  It  is  understood  that  the 
corpse  is  to  be  removed  to  Philadelphia.  This  gentleman 
is  said  to  have  been  in  possession  of  an  immense  fortune, 
and  has  left  to  his  three  daughters  in  Spain  one  hundred 
thousand  pounds  sterling  each.  Here  we  behold  the  end 
of  all  earthly  riches,  pomp,  and  dignity.  The  ashes  of 
Don  Miralles  mingle  with  the  remains  of  those  who  are 
clothed  in  humble  shrouds,  arid  whose  career  in  life  was 
marked  with  sordid  poverty  and  wretchedness. 

May. — The  officers  of  our  army  have  long  been  dissat 
isfied  with  their  situation,  conceiving  that  we  are  devoting 
our  lives  to  the  public  service  without  an  adequate  remu 
neration.  Our  sacrifices  are  incalculably  great,  and  far 


194:  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

exceed  the  bounds  of  duty,  which  the  public  can  of  right 
claim  from  any  one  class  of  men.  Our  wages  are  not 
punctually  paid,  we  are  frequently  five  or  six  months  in 
arrears,  and  the  continental  money  which  we  receive  is 
depreciated  to  the  lowest  ebb.  Congress  have  established 
a  scale  of  depreciation,  by  which  the  continental  bills  are 
valued  at  forty  for  one  of  silver,  and  at  this  rate  they  have 
resolved  that  all  their  bills  shall  be  called  in  and  a  new 
emission  shall  be  issued,  and  received  at  the  rate  of  one 
for  forty  of  the  old  emission.  But  the  public  confidence 
in  paper  money  is  greatly  diminished,  and  it  is  with  ex 
treme  difficulty  that  proper  supplies  can  be  procured  to 
serve  the  pressing  exigencies  of  our  army.  I  have  just 
seen  in  the  newspaper  an  advertisement  offering  for  an 
article  forty  dollars  a  pound,  or  three  shillings  in  silver. 
This  is  the  trash  which  is  tendered  to  requite  us  for  our 
sacrifices,  for  our  sufferings  and  privations,  while  in  the 
service  of  our  country.  It  is  but  a  sordid  pittance  even 
for  our  common  purposes  while  in  camp,  but  those  who 
have  families  dependent  on  them  at  home,  are  reduced  to 
a  deplorable  condition.  In  consequence  of  this  state  of 
things,  a  considerable  number  of  officers  have  been  com 
pelled  to  resign  their  commissions.  His  Excellency  Gen 
eral  Washington,  is  perplexed  with  an  apprehension  that 
he  shall  lose  many  of  his  most  experienced  and  valuable 
officers;  and  knowing  the  injustice  which  they  suffer,  he 
has  taken  a  warm  interest  in  their  cause,  and  repeatedly 
represented  to  Congress  the  absolute  necessity  of  making 
such  provision  as  will  encourage  the  officers  to  continue 
in  service  to  the  end  of  the  war.  This  subject  he  has 
pressed  with  such  earnestness  and  solicitude,  as  at  length 
to  effect  the  desired  purpose.  Congress  have  resolved  that 
all  officers  of  the  line  of  the  army  who  shall  continue  in 
service  till  the  close  of  the  war,  shall  be  entitled  to  half- 
pay  during  life,  and  the  depreciation  of  their  pay  shall  be 
made  good;  and  also  that  they  shall  receive  a  number  of 
acres  of  land,  in  proportion  to  their  rank,  at  the  close  of 
the  war.  This  measure  meets  the  approbation,  and  is 
satisfactory  to  those  who  are  to  be  entitled  to  the  pro 
vision;  but  it  includes  the  officers  of  the  line  of  the  army 
only ;  it  is  not  extended  to  the  medical  staff,  and  they  con 
sider  themselves  pointedly  neglected.  Why  are  the  officers 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

of  the  line  allowed  this  exclusive  act  of  justice — a  com 
pensation  for  the  depreciation  of  the  currency?  If  it  is 
just  for  the  line,  what  reasons  can  be  assigned  why  the 
staff-officers  should  not  be  included,  when  the  depreciation 
is  known  to  be  common  to  both?  Equal  justice  should 
be  the  motto  of  every  government.  The  officers  on  the 
staff  have  a  right  to  think  themselves  treated  with  the 
most  flagrant  injustice. 

A  committee  have  arrived  in  camp  from  Congress,  for 
the  purpose  of  investigating  the  circumstances  and  condi 
tion  of  the  army,  and  of  redressing  our  grievances,  if  in 
their  power.  The  regimental  surgeons  and  mates  have 
convened,  and  chosen  a  committee  of  three,  to  wait  on  the 
committee  of  Congress,  and  to  present  for  their  consid 
eration  our  complaints  and  grievances,  and  to  inquire 
whether  we  are  to  be  included  in  the  resolve  making  pro 
vision  for  regimental  officers,  and  entitled  to  the  emolu 
ments  granted  to  the  line  of  the  army?  The  committee 
replied,  that  they  could  not  give  a  decisive  answer,  that 
the  subject  of  our  complaints  did  not  come  under  their 
cognizance,  but  that  they  would  make  the  proper  repre 
sentation  to  Congress. 

Our  brigade  was  paraded  for  inspection  and  review  by 
Baron  Steuben,  in  the  presence  of  his  Excellency  General 
Washington.  The  troops  appeared  to  much  advantage, 
and  the  officers  received  the  thanks  of  the  baron  for  the 
military  and  soldierly  appearance  of  the  men. 

10th. — Dined  with  Colonel  Jackson,  who  entertained  a 
party  of  gentlemen.  Our  table  was  not  ornamented  with 
numerous  covers,  our  fare  was  frugal,  but  decent.  Colonel 
Jackson  possesses  a  liberal  and  generous  spirit,  and  enter 
tains  his  friends  in  the  kindest  manner.  We  sat  at  table 
till  evening,  enjoying  the  conversation  of  the  learned 
Doctor  Shippin,  director-general  of  the  hospital  depart 
ment,  accompanied  by  Colon  el  Proctor  and  Major  Eustis. 
The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  has  just  arrived  at  head-quar 
ters,  lately  from  France.  The  safe  return  of  this  respect 
able  personage  is  matter  of  joy  and  congratulation. 

26th. — Eleven  soldiers  are  condemned  to  suffer  death 
for  various  crimes,  three  of  whom  are  sentenced  to  be 
shot;  the  whole  number  were  prepared  for  execution  this 
day,  but  pardons  were  granted  by  the  Commander-in-chief 


196  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

to  those  who  were  to  have  been  shot,  and  the  seven  others, 
while  under  the  gallows.  This  was  a  most  solemn  and 
affecting  scene,  capable  of  torturing  the  feelings  even  of 
the  most  callous  breast.  The  wretched  criminals  were 
brought  in  carts  to  the  place  of  execution.  Mr.  Rogers, 
the  chaplain,  attended  them  to  the  gallows,  addressed  them 
in  a  very  pathetic  manner,  impressing  on  their  minds  the 
heinousness  of  their  crimes,  the  justice  of  their  sentence, 
and  the  high  importance  of  a  preparation  for  death.'  The 
criminals  were  placed  side  by  side,  on  the  scaffold,  with 
halters  round  their  necks,  their  coffins  before  their  eyes, 
their  graves  open  to  their  view,  and  thousands  of  specta 
tors  bemoaning  their  awful  doom.  The  moment  ap 
proaches  when  ever^y  eye  is  fixed  in  expectation  of  beholding 
the  agonies  of  death — the  eyes  of  the  victims  are  already 
closed  from  the  light  of  this  world.  At  this  awful  moment, 
while  their  fervent  prayers  are  ascending  to  Heaven,  an 
officer  comes  forward  and  reads  a  reprieve  for  seven  of 
them,  by  the  commander-in-chief.  The  trembling  crimi 
nals  are  now  divested  of  the  habiliments  of  death,  and  their 
bleeding  hearts  leap  for  joy.  How  exquisitely  rapturous 
must  be  the  transition  when  snatched  from  the  agonizing 
horrors  of  a  cruel  death,  and  mercifully  restored  to  the 
enjoyment  of  a  life  that  had  been  forfeited!  No  pen  can 
describe  the  emotions  which  must  have  agitated  their 
souls.  They  were  scarcely  able  to  remove  from  the  scaf 
fold  without  assistance.  The  chaplain  reminded  them  of 
the  gratitude  they  owed  the  commander-in-chief  for  his 
clemency  towards  them,  and  that  the  only  return  in  their 
power  to  make,  was  a  life  devoted  to  the  faithful  discharge 
of  their  duty.  The  criminal  who  was  executed  had  been 
guilty  of  forging  a  number  of  discharges,  by  which  he  and 
more  than  a  hundred  soldiers  had  left  the  army.  He  ap 
peared  to  be  penitent,  and  behaved  with  uncommon  forti 
tude  and  resolution.  He  addressed  the  soldiers,  desired 
them  to  be  faithful  to  their  country  and  obedient  to  their 
officers,  and  advised  the  officers  to  be  punctual  in  all  their 
engagements  to  the  soldiers,  and  give  them  no  cause  to 
desert.  He  examined  the  halter,  and  told  the  hangman 
the  knot  was  not  made  right,  and  that  the  rope  was  not 
strong  enough,  as  he  was  a  heavy  man.  Having  adjusted 
the  knot  and  fixed  it  round  his  own  neck,  he  was  swung 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

off  instantly.  The  rope  broke,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground, 
by  which  he  was  very  much  bruised.  He  calmly  re'as- 
cended  the  ladder,  and  said,  "I  told  you  the  rope  was  not 
strong  enough :  do  get  a  stronger  one."  Another  being 
procured,  he  was  launched  into  eternity. 

29^/z. — Four  battalions  of  our  troops  were  paraded  for 
review  by  the  committee  of  Congress,  in  the  presence  of 
General  Washington;  they  were  duly  honored  with  the 
military  salute. 

We  are  again  visited  with  the  calamity  of  which  we  have 
so  often  complained,  a  great  scarcity  of  provisions  of  every 
kind.  Our  poor  soldiers  are  reduced  to  the  very  verge  of 
famine;  their  patience  is  exhausted  by  complicated  suf 
ferings,  and  their  spirits  are  almost  broken.  It  is  with 
extreme  pain  that  we  perceive  in  the  ranks  of  the  soldiers 
a  sensible  diminution  of  that  enthusiastic  patriotism,  and 
that  ardent  attachment  to  our  cause,  by  which  they  were 
formerly  distinguished.  Much  praise  is  due  to  the  officers 
of  every  grade,  who  make  all  possible  exertions  to  encour 
age,  to  satisfy  and  to  soothe  the  desponding  spirits  of  the 
soldiery.  Under  the  most  trying  circumstances,  however, 
both  officers  and  soldiers  retain  their  full  confidence  in  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  our  illustrious  commander-in- 
chief,  whom  they  almost  adore,  looking  up  to  him  as 
children  to  an  affectionate  father,  participating  in  the 
same  sufferings.  Another  source  of  dissatisfaction  is  the 
great  inequality  subsisting  among  the  soldiers  respecting 
their  pecuniary  compensation.  Those  who  enlisted  at  an 
early  period,  for  a  small  bounty,  now  find  in  the  ranks 
with  themselves  others  who  have  recently  enlisted  for  a 
bounty  of  more  than  ten  times  the  nominal  value.  This, 
as  may  be  supposed,  excites  the  most  poignant  chagrin 
and  disgust,  and,  with  other  causes  of  discontent,  has  pro 
duced  a  considerable  degree  of  relaxation  in  discipline, 
and  an  unusual  number  of  desertions  from  our  ranks. 
An  event  still  more  alarming  occurred  on  the  25th  instant. 
Two  regiments  of  the  Connecticut  line  took  the  liberty  to 
parade  without  their  officers,  and  in  the  spirit  of  mutiny, 
resolved  to  march  into  the  country  to  relieve  themselves 
from  present  difficulties,  and  to  furnish  themselves  with 
provisions  at  all  hazards.  Colonel  Meigs,  in  attempting 
to  restore  order,  received  a  blow  from  one  of  the  nmti- 


198  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

neers.  A  brigade  of  Pennsylvanians  was  ordered  to  arrest 
their  progress.  The  leaders  were  secured,  and  the  two 
regiments  were  returned  to  their  duty.  Their  complaints 
are,  that  they  have  too  long  served  the  public  without  any 
present,  or  prospect  of  future  recompense;  that  their  suf 
ferings  are  insupportable,  that  their  pay  is  five  months  in 
arrear,  and  that  it  is  of  no  value  when  received.  These 
circumstances  are  known  to  be  substantially  true,  and  in 
justice  they  ought,  and  undoubtedly  will,  be  admitted  in 
extenuation  of  the  crime  which  they  have  committed.  It 
is  nevertheless  indispensably  important  that  every  symp 
tom  of  insubordination  should  be  crushed  as  soon  as  dis 
covered,  lest  the  example  become  contagious,  and  involve 
the  whole  army  in  ruin. 

June. — In  consequence  of  some  movements  of  the  en 
emy,  our  brigade  was  ordered  to  Chatham.  A  party  of 
the  enemy,  about  five  thousand  strong,  came  out  of  New 
York  on  the  7th  instant,  to  a  place  called  Connecticut 
Farms,  where  they  burned  a  few  houses  and  plundered 
the  inhabitants;  but  being  opposed  by  General  Maxwell's 
brigade  of  Jersey  troops,  and  the  militia,  who  turned  out 
with  spirit,  they  soon  retreated  to  Elizabethtown  Point 
with  some  loss,  and  were  pursued  by  our  troops.  In  this 
little  skirmish,  the  British  General  Stirling  received  a 
wound  which  it  is  supposed  will  prove  mortal.  A  num 
ber  of  other  officers  and  soldiers,  on  the  side  of  the  British, 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  twent}^  prisoners  taken  by 
our  militia.  Our  loss  does  not  exceed  ten  or  twelve 
killed,  and  twenty  or  thirty  wounded. 

Among  the  horrid  and  barbarous  deeds  of  the  enemy, 
one  has  just  been  perpetrated,  which  will  be  an  everlast 
ing  stigma  on  the  British  character.  In  the  vicinity  of 
the  Connecticut  Farms,  state  of  New  Jersey,  resided  the 
Rev.  James  Caldwell,  a  Presbyterian  minister.  This  gen 
tleman  had  uniformly  taken  an  active  part  with  his  parish 
ioners  on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  in  consequence  of 
which  he  was  marked  for  British  vengeance.  On  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  he  retired  into  the  country,  leav 
ing  his  lady  with  the  care  of  the  family,  supposing  that 
th  e  customary  respect  for  the  female  character  would  be 
a  pledge  for  her  safety.  Mrs.  Caldwell,  soon  after  the 
approach  of  the  royal  troops  to  the  house,  and  a  young 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  ^99 

woman,  having  Mrs.  Caldwell's  infant  in  her  arms,  seated 
themselves  on  the  bed,  when  a  British  soldier  came  to  the 
house,  and  putting  his  gun  to  the  window  of  the  room, 
shot  her  through  the  breast,  and  she  instantly  expired. 
Soon  after,  an  officer  with  two  Hessian  soldiers  came  and 
ordered  a  hole  to  be  dug,  the  body  to  be  thrown  in,  and 
the  house  to  be  set  on  fire.  Thus  was  murdered  an  amia 
ble  and  excellent  lady,  and  the  worthy  husband  left  with 
nine  children,  destitute  of  even  a  change  of  clothes,  or 
any  thing  to  render  them  comfortable.  The  house  and 
every  article  belonging  to  this  respectable  family  were 
consumed,  together  with  the  church  and  thirteen  dwelling- 
houses.  The  British,  during  their  excursion,  took  the 
opportunity  of  distributing  a  number  of  hand-bills,  con 
taining  a  pompous  account  of  the  capture  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  the  garrison, 
commanded  by  Major-General  Lincoln.  This  unfortunate 
event  is  now  confirmed  by  Generals  Arnold  and  Wayne, 
who  have  just  arrived  from  Philadelphia.  General  Lin 
coln  was  posted  in  the  town  of  Charleston,  with  a  force 
consisting  of  between  two  and  three  thousand  men,  includ 
ing  militia  and  seamen.  General  Clinton,  invested  the 
town  with  a  powerful  fleet  and  an  army  of  thirteen  thou 
sand  strong.  He  proceeded  with  regular  approaches,  till 
he  advanced  within  twenty -five  yards  of  the  American 
lines,  and  repeatedly  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  gar 
rison.  Through  the  very  j  udicious  management  of  General 
Lincoln,  the  siege  was  protracted  from  the  13th  of  April 
to  the  12th  of  May;  and  during  fifteen  days  of  this  time 
his  troops  were  reduced  to  an  allowance  of  six  ounces  of 
pork  a  man,  and  for  the  last  six  days  to  one  and  a  half- 
pint  of  rice  and  three  ounces  of  sugar  a  day.  General 
Lincoln  had  to  consult  the  interest  and  opinions  of  the 
inhabitants,  which  greatly  increased  his  embarrassments. 
At  length  the  lines  of  defence  being  almost  entirely  de 
molished,  by  an  incessant  bombardment  and  cannonade, 
the  besieged  were  reduced  to  the  last  extremity;  and  being 
in  hourly  expectation  of  an  assault,  it  was  agreed  between 
General  Lincoln  and  the  principal  inhabitants  that  the  town 
and  garrison  should  be  surrendered  by  capitulation.  Gen 
eral  Lincoln,  in  this  most  important  transaction  of  his  life, 
manifested  a  cool  intrepidity,  a  zealous  perseverance,  and 


200  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

a  presence  of  mind  which  proclaim  him  preeminently 
qualified  to  encounter  the  extreme  difficulties  and  dangers, 
in  which  he  was  involved;  and  the  terms  of  surrender 
were  as  honorable  as  could  have  been  expected. 

loth. — Major  Lee,  from  Virginia,  has  just  arrived  in 
camp,  with  a  beautiful  corps  of  light-horse,  the  men  in 
complete  uniform,  and  the  horses  very  elegant  and  finely 
disciplined.  Major  Lee  is  said  to  be  a  man  of  great  spirit 
and  enterprise,  and  much  important  service  is  expected 
from  him.  By  a  gentleman  just  from  New  York,  we  are 
informed  that  General  Stirling  died  a  few  days  ago  of  the 
wounds  which  he  received  in  the  skirmish  with  our  troops 
on  the  7th  instant. 

16th. — A  soldier  of  the  Jersey  line  was  hanged  for  at 
tempting  to  desert  to  the  enemy.  This  is  one  of  those 
hardened  villains  who  were  pardoned  under  the  gallows 
about  three  weeks  since. 

19th. — Four  emissaries  from  the  enemy,  were  found 
concealed  in  a  barn,  belonging  to  a  tory,  in  the  vicinity 
of  our  lines  ;  one  of  them,  their  leader,  refused  to  surren 
der,  and  was  killed  on  the  spot.  The  other  three  were 
tried  by  court-martial,  and  being  convicted  as  spies,  were 
sentenced  to  be  hanged.  These  unfortunate  young  men 
came  to  the  gallows  overwhelmed  with  the  horrors  of 
death.  Their  whole  frames  were  thrown  into  a  tremor, 
and  they  were  tortured  at  the  sight  of  the  gallows  and  hal 
ters.  They  had  flattered  themselves  that  mercy  would  be 
extended  to  them,  and  that  they  would  either  be  pardoned, 
or  their  lives  be  prolonged  for  a  few  days ;  but  when  they 
found  that  the  executioner  was  about  to  perform  his  office, 
their  mournful  cries  and  lamentations  were  distressing  be 
yond  description.  It  has  some  where  been  noted,  that  a 
girl  walked  seven  miles,  in  a  torrent  of  rain,  to  see  a  man 
hanged,  and  returned  in  tears,  because  the  criminal  was 
reprieved;  on  the  present  occasion,  a  heart  so  full  of  de 
pravity  might  have  enjoyed  an  indulgence  even  to  satiety. 

The  enemy  in  New  York  are  reported  to  be  in  motion, 
and  we  shall  probably  very  soon  be  called  to  engage  in" 
battle.  General  orders  are  issued  for  the  whole  army  to 
be  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning.  At  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  23d,  the  alarm  guns  were 
fired,  and  the  drums  throughout  our  camp  beat  to  arms, 


MILITAKY  JODKNAL,  1780.  201 

announcing  the  approach  of  the  enemy;  the  whole  army 
is  instantly  in  motion,  the  scene  to  my  contemplation  is 
awfully  sublime,  yet  animation  and  composure  seem  to 
pervade  every  countenance.  The  present  hour  is  undoubt 
edly  pregnant  with  death  and  carnage;  every  arm  is 
nerved  for  defence,  and  every  heart,  it  is  presumed,  fortified 
to  abide  its  destiny.  Soon  after  the  alarm,  our  advanced 
party,  consisting  of  General  Maxwell's  brigade  and  a  few 
militia,  discovered  the  enemy  advancing  towards  the  vil 
lage  of  Springfield.  A  close  engagement  with  the  enemy's 
advance  immediately  ensued;  but  being  pressed  by  four 
times  our  number,  General  Maxwell,  after  an  obstinate 
resistance,  was  obliged  to  retreat,  till  a  reinforcement  could 
arrive.  Our  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Stark,  soon 
joined  Maxwell,  on  the  high  ground  near  the  village  of 
Springfield.  Colonel  Angel's  regiment,  of  Rhode  Island, 
with  several  small  parties,  were  posted  at  a  bridge  over 
which  the  enemy  were  to  pass,  and  their  whole  force,  of 
five  or  six  thousand  men,  was  actually  held  in  check  by 
these  brave  soldiers  for  more  than  forty  minutes,  amidst 
the  severest  firing  of  cannon  and  musketry.  The  enemy, 
however,  with  their  superior  force,  advanced  into  the  vil 
lage,  and  wantonly  set  fire  to  the  buildings.  We  had  the 
mortification  of  beholding  the  church,  and  twenty  or  thirty 
dwelling-houses  and  other  buildings,  in  a  blaze,  and  they 
were  soon  consumed  to  ashes.  Having  thus  completed  their 
great  enterprise,  and  acquired  to  themselves  the  honor  of 
burning  a  village,  they  made  a  precipitate  retreat  to  Eliza 
beth  Point,  and  the  ensuing  night  crossed  over  to  Staten 
Island.  Our  brigade  was  ordered  to  pursue  the  retreating 
enemy,  but  we  could  not  overtake  them;  we  discovered 
several  fresh  graves,  and  found  fifteen  dead  bodies,  which 
they  left  in  the  field,  and  which  we  buried.  We  were 
informed  by  the  inhabitants,  that  they  carried  off  eight  or 
ten  wagon-loads  of  dead  and  wounded.  Our  militia  took 
fifteen  prisoners.  General  Knyphausen  was  the  com 
mander,  and  his  force  consisted  of  five  or  six  thousand 
•men;  the  particular  object  of  the  expedition  is  not  ascer 
tained;  if  it  was  to  force  their  way  to  Morristown,  to 
destroy  our  magazines  and  stores,  they  were  disappointed; 
if  to  burn  the  village  of  Springfield,  they  are  welcome  to 
the  honor  of  the  exploit.  Our  troops  were  commanded 


202  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

by  Major-General  Greene;  not  more  than  one  thousand 
were  brought  into  action  at  any  one  time ;  their  conduct 
was  marked  with  the  commendable  coolness  and  intre 
pidity  of  veteran  troops.  Colonel  Angel's  regiment,  in  a 
special  manner,  acquired  immortal  honor,  by  its  unexam 
pled  braver}'.  In  the  heat  of  the  action,  some  soldiers 
brought  to  me  in  a  blanket  Captain-Lieutenant  Thompson 
of  the  artillery,  who  had  received  a  most  formidable  wound, 
a  cannon-ball  having  passed  through  both  his  thighs  near 
the  knee-joint.  With  painful  anxiety,  the  poor  man  in 
quired  if  I  would  amputate  both  his  thighs.  Sparing  his 
feelings,  I  evaded  his  inquiry,  and  directed  him  to  be 
carried  to  the  hospital  tent  in  the  rear,  where  he  would 
receive  the  attention  of  the  surgeons.  "All  that  a  man 
hath  will  he  give  for  his  life."  He  expired  in  a  few  hours. 
While  advancing  against  the  enemy,  my  attention  was 
directed  to  a  wounded  soldier  in  the  field.  I  dismounted, 
and  left  my  horse  at  a  rail-fence.  It  was  not  long  before 
a  cannon-ball  shattered  a  rail  within  a  few  feet  of  my 
horse,  and  some  soldiers  were  sent  to  take  charge  of  the 
wounded  man,  and  to  tell  me  it  was  time  to  retire.  I  now 
perceived  that  our  party  had  retreated,  and  our  regiment 
had  passed  me.  I  immediately  mounted,  and  applied 
spurs  to  my  horse,  that  I  might  gain  the  front  of  our 
regiment.  Colonel  Jackson  being  in  the  rear,  smiled  as 
I  passed  him ;  but  as  my  duty  did  not  require  my  expo 
sure,  I  felt  at  liberty  to  seek  a  place  of  safety.  It  may 
be  considered  a  singular  circumstance,  that  the  soldier 
above  mentioned  was  wounded  by  the  wind  of  a  cannon- 
ball.  His  arm  was  fractured  above  the  elbow,  without 
the  smallest  perceptible  injury  to  his  clothes,  or  contusion 
or  discoloration  of  the  skin.  He  made  no  complaint,  but 
I  observed  he  was  feeble  and  a  little  confused  in  his  mind. 
He  received  proper  attention,  but  expired  the  next  day. 
The  idea  of  injury  by  the  wind  of  a  ball,  I  learn,  is  not 
new — instances  of  the  kind  have,  it  is  said,  occurred  in 
naval  battles,  and  are  almost  constantly  attended  with 
fatal  effects. 

Our  troops  in  camp  are  in  general  healthy,  but  we  are 
troubled  with  many  perplexing  instances  of  indisposition, 
occasioned  by  absence  from  home,  called  by  Dr.  Cullen 
nostalgia,  or  home-sickness.  This  complaint  is  frequent 


MAJOR   GENERAL   BENJAMIN   LINCOLN. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1780.  203 

among  the  militia  and  recruits  from  New  England.  They 
become  dull  and  melancholy,  with  loss  of  appetite,  restless 
nights,  and  great  weakness.  In  some  instances  they  be 
come  so  hypochondriacal  as  to  be  proper  subjects  for  the 
hospital.  This  disease  is  in  many  instances  cured  by  the 
raillery  of  the  old  soldiers,  but  is  generally  suspended  by 
a  constant  and  active  engagement  of  the  mind,  as  by  the 
drill  exercise,  camp  discipline,  and  by  uncommon  anxiety, 
occasioned  by  the  prospect  of  a  battle. 

July. — Our  brigade  marched  from  Short  hills  on  the 
25th  of  June,  and  arrived  at  Prackanes,  Jersey,  the  1st 
of  July.  I  rode  with  Dr.  Tenney  and  Captain  Hughes 
about  five  miles,  to  take  a  view  of  the  Passaic  falls,  called 
by  some  Totowa  falls,  which  are  represented  as  a  great 
natural  curiosity.  The  Passaic  river  runs  over  large 
rocky  mountains  covered  with  fir-trees.  At  this  place  an 
immense  body  of  rock  would  totally  interrupt  its  passage, 
had  it  not  been  by  some  stupendous  power  rent  in  several 
places  from  top  to  bottom,  forming  huge  clefts,  some  of 
which  are  twenty  or  thirty  feet  wide,  others  not  more  than 
two  or  three,  and  from  fifty  to  seventy  feet  deep.  The 
depth  of  one  of  them,  it  is  said,  has  never  been  ascertained. 
It  is  here  that  the  whole  torrent  of  the  river  falls  perpen 
dicularly,  with  amazing  violence  and  rapidity,  down  a 
rocky  precipice  of  seventy  feet,  with  a  tremendous  roar 
and  foaming.  But  being  interrupted  in  its  course,  by 
craggy  rocks,  it  turns  abruptly  to  the  right,  and  again  to 
the  left,  and  falling  into  huge  cavities  below,  the  whole 
torrent  vanishes  from  our  sight;  but  stepping  to  another 
precipice  a  few  yards  distant,  we  behold  the  same  torrent 
emerging  from  its  subterraneous  course,  and  rushing  into 
a  large  basin,  or  cavern,  formed  in  the  rock.  This  basin 
contains  forty  fathoms  of  water,  and  is  never  full,  but  its 
rocky  walls  on  all  sides  ascend  sixty  feet  above  the  surface 
of  the  water.  Such  is  the  astonishing  depth  of  this  re 
ceptacle,  that  the  water  neither  foams  nor  forms  whirlpools 
by  the  rushing  current,  but  is  calm  and  undisturbed. 
From  this  basin  the  water  rushes  through  its  outlet,  re'as- 
sunies  the  form  of  a  river,  and  in  majestic  silence  pursues 
its  course  towards  the  sea. 

In  the  afternoon  we  were  invited  to  visit  another  curi 
osity  in  the  neighborhood.  This  is  a  monster  in  the  human 
14 


204  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

form.  He  is  twenty-seven  years  of  age ;  his  face,  from  the 
upper  part  of  his  forehead  to  the  end  of  his  chin,  measures 
twenty  inches,  and  round  the  upper  part  of  his  head  is 
twenty-one  inches;  his  eyes  and  nose  are  remarkably 
large  and  prominent,  chin  long  and  pointed.  His  features 
are  coarse,  irregular,  and  disgusting,  and  his  voice  is  rough 
and  sonorous.  His  body  is  only  twenty-seven  inches  in 
length,  his  limbs  are  small  and  much  deformed,  and  he 
has  the  use  of  one  hand  only.  He  has  never  been  able  to 
stand  or  sit  up,  as  he  cannot  support  the  enormous  weight 
of  his  head;  but  lies  constantly  in  a  large  cradle,  with  his 
head  supported  on  pillows.  He  is  visited  by  great  num 
bers  of  people,  and  is  peculiarly  fond  of  the  company  of 
clergymen,  always  inquiring  for  them  among  his  visitors, 
and  taking  great  pleasure  in  receiving  religious  instruc 
tion.  General  Washington  made  him  a  visit,  and  asked, 
"whether  he  was  a  whig  or  tory?"  He  replied,  that  "he 
had  never  taken  an  active  part  on  either  side." 

Qtk. — I  took  an  excursion  a  few  miles  into  the  country, 
to  visit  the  surgeons  of  the  flying  hospital;  took  tea  at 
their  quarters,  with  a  wealthy  Dutch  family,  and  was 
treated  with  great  civility.  They  live  in  a  style  superior 
to  the  Low  Dutch  in  general;  the  table  was  amply  fur 
nished  with  cherries,  raspberries  and  other  fruits,  which 
abound  in  this  country. 

10th. — The  officers  of  our  regiment  and  those  of  Colonel 
Webb's  united  in  providing  an  entertainment,  and  invited 
a  respectable  number  of  gentlemen  of  our  brigade  to  dine; 
Dr.  West  and  myself  were  appointed  caterers  and  super 
intendents.  We  erected  a  large  arbor,  with  the  boughs 
of  trees,  under  which  we  enjoyed  an  elegant  dinner,  and 
spent  the  afternoon  in  social  glee,  with  some  of  the  wine 
which  was  taken  from  the  enemy  when  they  retreated 
from  Elizabethtown.  Our  drums  and  fifes  afforded  us  a 
favorite  music  till  evening,  when  we  were  delighted  with 
the  song  composed  by  Mr.  Hopkinson,  called  the  "Battle  of 
the  Kegs"  sung  in  the  best  style  by  a  number  of  gentlemen. 
I4Jh. — An  express  has  arrived  at  head-quarters,  from 
Rhode  Island,  with  the  pleasing  information  of  the  arrival 
there  of  a  French  fleet,  accompanied  by  an  army  of  six 
thousand  regular  French  troops,  who  are  to  cooperate 
with  our  army  as  allies  in  our  cause.  They  are  com- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  205 

manded  by  Count  Rochambeau,  a  distinguished  general 
in  the  French  service. 

20th. — In  general  orders,  the  commander-in-chief  con 
gratulates  the  army  on  the  arrival  of  a  large  land  and 
naval  armament  at  Rhode  Island,  sent  by  his  Most  Chris 
tian  Majesty,  to  cooperate  with  us  against  the  common 
enemy.  The  lively  concern  which  our  allies  manifest  for 
our  safety  and  independence,  has  a  claim  to  the  affection 
of  every  virtuous  citizen.  The  general  with  confidence 
assures  the  army,  that  the  officers  and  men  of  the  French 
forces  come  to  our  aid  animated  with  a  zeal  founded  in 
sentiment  for  us,  as  well  as  in  duty  to  their  prince,  and 
that  they  will  do  every  thing*  in  their  power  to  promote 
harmony  and  cultivate  friendship ;  he  is  equally  persuaded, 
on  our  part,  that  we  shall  vie  with  them  in  their  good 
disposition,  to  which  we  are  excited  by  gratitude  as  well 
as  by  common  interest;  and  that  the  only  contention  be 
tween  the  two  armies  will  be  to  excel  each  other  in  good 
offices,  and  in  the  display  of  every  military  virtue.  This 
will  be  a  pledge  of  the  most  solid  advantage  to  the  com 
mon  cause,  and  a-,  glorious  issue  to  the  campaign.  The 
commander-in-chief  has  recommended  to  the  officers  of 
our  army  to  wear  cockades  of  black  and  white,  inter 
mixed,  as  a  symbol  of  friendship  for  our  French  allies, 
who  wear  white  cockades. 

22d — The  officers  of  our  regiment  received  an  invitation 
to  dine  with  Major-General  Lord  Stirling.  We  were  in 
troduced  to  his  lordship  by  Colonel  Jackson,  and  were 
received  with  great  civility  and  politeness.  Colonel  Bid- 
die  and  his  lady  were  of  the  guests.  Our  entertainment 
was  sumptuous  and  elegant.  After  the  covers  were  re 
moved,  the  servants  brought  in  pails  filled  with  cherries 
and  strawberries,  which  were  strewed  over  the  long  table; 
with  these,  and  excellent  wine,  accompanied  by  martial 
music,  we  regaled  ourselves  till  evening.  This  gentle 
man's  proper  name  is  William  Alexander,  and  he  is  a 
native  of  the  state  of  New  York.  He  visited  Scotland  in 
pursuit  of  the  title  and  estate  of  an  earldom,  which  he 
claimed  as  the  rightful  heir  of  his  ancestor,  who  had  this 
title,  and  a  grant  of  Nova  Scotia,  anno.  1621,  In  this 
pursuit,  he  expended  a  large  proportion  of  his  fortune, 
but  failed  in  obtaining  an  acknowledgment  of  his  claim. 


206  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

by  the  government;  yet,  by  courtesy,  he  bears  the  title 
of  Lord  Stirling.  He  is  considered  as  a  brave,  intelligent 
and  judicious  officer.  In  the  battle  on  Long  Island  in 
August,  1776,  he  unfortunately  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy;  but  it  occasioned  no  ihipeachment  of  his  charac 
ter  and  conduct.  He  possesses  the  genuine  principles  of 
patriotism,  and  is  strongly  attached  to  General  Washing 
ton.  He  disclosed  to  the  cornmander-in-chief  the  intrigue 
of  General  Comvay,  when  in  1777  he  attempted  to  super 
sede  his  excellency,  saying  in  his  letter,  "such  wicked 
duplicity  of  conduct,  I  shall  always  think  it  my  duty  to 
detect."  In  his  personal  appearance,  his  lordship  is  ven 
erable  and  dignified;  in  hfs  deportment,  gentlemanly  and 
graceful ;  in  conversation,  pleasing  and  interesting.*  He 
is  said  to  be  ambitious  of  the  title  of  lordship.  Being 
present  at  the  execution  of  a  soldier  for  desertion,  the 
criminal  at  the  gallows  repeatedly  cried  out,  "the  Lord 
have  mercy  on  me!"  his  lordship  with  warmth  exclaimed, 
"I  won't,  you  rascal,  I  won't  have  mercy  on  you." 

23c?. — Sunday  I  attended  a  sermon  preached  by  Mr. 
Blair,  chaplain  of  the  artillery.  The  tfoops  were  paraded 
in  the  open  field,  the  sermon  was  well  calculated  to  incul 
cate  religious  principles  and  the  moral  virtues.  His  Ex 
cellency  General  Washington,  Major-Generals  Greene  and 
Knox,  with  a  number  of  other  officers,  were  present. 

August. — Orders  are  given  for  the  army  to  be  in  readi 
ness  for  a  movement. 

According  to  orders,  our  brigade  marched  from  Prac- 
kanes  on  the  29th  of  July,  and  encamped  at  Pararnus  at 
night,  fifteen  miles.  The  men  were  exceedingly  affected 
with  the  heat  and  fatigue.  We  marched  on  the  succeed 
ing  day  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning;  at  this  early  hour, 
the  drums  beat  the  reveille,  which  summons  us  from  our 
hard  beds  and  slumbers,  in  haste  we  roll  up  our  travel 
ling  bed  furniture,  strike  our  tents,  order  them  thrown 
into  the  wagons,  mount  o\ir  horses,  and  with  a  slow  pace 
follow  the  march  of  our  soldiers,  bending  under  the  weight 
of  the  burden  on  their  backs.  We  arrived  at  the  North 
river  and  crossed  the  ferry,  August  1st,  where  we  found 
the  whole  of  our  main  army  collecting  to  a  point.  All 
the  troops  from  West  Point  that  can  be  spared,  and  de- 
*  Ills  lordship  died  at  Albany,  January  15th,  1783,  aged  fifty-seven  years. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1780.  207 

tachments  from  different  stations,  have  formed  a  junction 
in  this  vicinity.  Two  brigades  have  been  selected  from 
the  different  regiments  in  the  main  army,  to  form  a  corps 
of  light  infantry,  to  be  commanded  by  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette.  They  have  been  reviewed  by  the  commander- 
in-chief  and  other  general  officers,  on  t>he  grand  parade, 
and  are  pronounced  to  be  as  excellent  a  corps  as  can  be 
produced  in  any  army.  The  marquis  is  delighted  with 
his  command,  and  is  at  his  own  expense  providing  for 
them  some  extra  equipments.  It  is  understood  that  Gen 
eral  Clinton  has  despatched  a  part  of  the  British  fleet  and 
army  on  an  expedition  against  our  allies,  the  French  fleet 
and  army  at  Rhode  Island.  The  whole  of  our  army  hav 
ing  crossed  to  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson,  it  is  conjectured 
that  his  excellency  contemplates  some  important  enterprise 
against  the  enemy  at  New  York,  or  at  least  to  compel 
General  Clinton  to  recall  his  expedition  from  Rhode  Isl 
and,  for  his  own  safety.  Our  commander-in-chief  has 
ordered  that  the  army  disencumber  itself  of  all  heavy 
baggage,  which,  with  the  women  and  children,  are  to  be 
immediately  sent  to  West  Point,  and  that  the  troops  have 
constantly  two  days'  provisions  cooked  on  hand,  and  hold 
themselves  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning. 
Such  is  our  condition  for  order  and  regularity,  that  the 
whole  army,  which  occupies  an  extent  of  several  miles, 
can  be  put  in  motion,  and  take  up  a  line  of  march  in  less 
than  one  hour.  The  horses  belonging  to  our  baggage- 
wagons  and  to  the  artillery  are  constantly  in  harness,  and 
those  belonging  to  the  officers  are  kept  in  readiness;  every 
man  and  every  horse  are  taught  to  know  their  place  and 
their  duty.  Marching  orders,  so  soon  as  issued,  are  com 
municated  to  each  brigade  and  regiment.  The  whole  line 
of  encampment  resounds  with  martial  music;  all  is  bustle 
and  activity,  but  free  from  confusion.  The  drums  and 
fifes  beating  a  march,  the  tents  are  instantly  struck  and 
thrown  into  wagons,  the  line  of  march  commences,  every 
subordinate  officer  and  soldier  follows  his  commander,  and 
whether  to  rush  into  battle  and  encounter  the  dogs  of  war, 
or  only  to  manoeuvre  in  the  field,  it  is  no  man's  business 
to  know  or  inquire.  The  secret  is  where  it  ought  to  be, 
in  the  breast  of  him  who  directs  our  destiny,  and  whom 
it  is  our  pride  to  obey.  Such  is  the  state  and  condition 


208  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  I;M>. 

of  a  well-regulated  and  disciplined  army,  and  such  only  can 
attain  to  militar}'  fame  and  glory.  It  is  now  ascertained, 
August  4th,  that  the  formidable  manoeuvre  of  our  army 
has  effected  the  object  intended.  The  enemy's  expedition 
to  Rhode  Island  has  returned  to  New  York,  in  conse 
quence  probably  of  the  alarm  excited  for  the  safety  of  that 
city.  Orders  are  now  received  for  our  army  to  recross  the 
Hudson  to  the  Jersey  shore.  Our  brigade  crossed  the 
ferry  in  the  night  of  the  5th;  and  encamped  in  a  field  about 
five  miles  from  the  ferry.  The  crossing  of  the  whole 
army,  occupied  three  days  and  nights,  cluring  which  a 
vast  number  of  large  boats  and  floats  were  continually  in 
motion.  On  the  6th,  marclied  to  Greenbush,  and  on  the 
7th  and  8th,  the  whole  army  arrived  and  encamped  at 
Orange  town.  The  light  infantry,  under  the  marquis,  is 
constantly  advanced  three  miles  in  front  of  the  army. 
The  fatigue  and  extreme  heat  during  this  march,  have  pro 
duced  very  unfavorable  effects  on  our  troops,  and  they  are 
now  becoming  sickly.  Cholera-morbus,  dysentery  and 
remittent  fevers,  are  the  prevailing  complaints,  which  de 
mand  all  my  attention. 

$th. — Dined  with  Baron  Steuben,  and  spent  the  after 
noon  with  the  guests.  The  baron  keeps  a  splendid  table, 
and  treats  his  visitors  with  polite  attention.  Captain 
William  North,  of  our  regiment,  is  one  of  the  aids-de-camp 
of  the  baron,  and  has  ingratiated  himself  so  highly  in  his 
favor,  that  he  treats  him  with  all  the  affection  of  a  son. 

A  committee  from  Congress  have  again  arrived  in  our 
camp,  with  the  view  of  investigating  the  affairs  of  the 
army,  to  attend  to  complaints,  arid  to  redress  grievances, 
so  far  as  may  be  in  their  power;  and  they  will  find  that 
their  task  and  duty  are  not  to  be  envied.  The  regimental 
surgeons  and  mates  have  deputed  a  committee  to  present 
a  list  of  our  grievances  for  their  honors7  consideration. 
We  claim  of  Congress  the  same  emoluments  and  remu 
neration  which  are  promised  to  the  officers  of  the  line 
of  the  army. 

14th. — Visited  Dr.  Cochran,  our  surgeon-general,  at  his 
quarters  in  the  country,  and  thence  proceeding  to  the  light 
infantry  encampment,  took  tea  with  Major  Trescott  and 
Captain  Gushing.  I  accompanied  a  number  of  officers  to 
Dobbs'  ferry,  where  our  troops  are  engaged  in  erecting  a 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  17SO.  209 

block-house  and  batteries,  to  defend  the  passage  at  the 
ferry-way.  The  Hudson  at  this  place  is  about  three  miles 
wide,  so  that  no  battery  can  prevent  the  enemy's  shipping 
from  passing  up  the  river  from  New  York. 

20th. — Sunday,  attended  a  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Enos 
Hitchcock,  chaplain  of  General  Patterson's  brigade;  the 
troops  were  assembled  in  the  open  field.  Mr.  Hitchcock 
is  respected  as  a  sensible  and  learned  divine,  of  pure 
morals  and  correct  principles.  His  patriotic  zeal  and 
ardent  attachment  to  his  country's  freedom,  induced  him 
to  quit  his  people  and  domestic  enjoyments  at  Beverly, 
Massachusetts,  for  the  turmoil  and  fatigue  of  camp.  I 
dined  with  my  friends  Dr.  Skinner  and  Major  Winslow. 
AVe  are  again  visited  with  the  alarming  apprehension  of  a 
famine;  no  meat  has  been  drawn  for  two  days  past;  no 
money,  no  rum,  and  no  contentment  among  our  soldiers 
— great  dissatisfaction  prevails. 

'2bth. — The  whole  army  in  this  quarter  has  decamped, 
the  object  and  destination  a  secret;  the  conjectural  object 
is  to  procure  a  supply  of  provisions  and  forage  from  the 
inhabitants  between  the  lines,  which  otherwise  would  go 
to  supply  the  wants  of  the  enemy.  All  the  sick  and  dis 
abled  are  left  in  camp,  and  I  am  directed  to  take  charge 
of  those  belonging  to  our  brigade;  but  with  this  charge  I 
am  left  entirely  destitute  of  provisions.  Feeling  myself 
authorized  to  take  a  small  supply  from  the  inhabitants  for 
immediate  necessity,  I  required  from  a  Dutchman  four 
sheep  from  his  form ;  as  he  was  offended  and  made  some 
opposition,  I  was  obliged  to  force  them  from  him,  giving 
a  receipt,  that  he  might  recover  a  compensation  from 
the  public. 

2tith. — Our  army  has  returned  from  below,  with  a  large 
quantity  of  forage,  and  provisions  of  various  kinds,  taken 
from  the  disaffected  inhabitants  on  the  lines.  This  affords 
us  an  important  relief,  when  almost  in  a  starving  condi 
tion.  A  small  party  of  the  enemy  was  discovered  near  the 
lines,  a  slight  skirmish  ensued,  and  they  soon  disappeared. 

29th.- — 1  accompanied  Captain  W.  to  the  village  of 
Charlestown,  met  Major-General  Schuyler  and  other  gen 
tlemen  at  a  tavern,  with  whom  we  dined.  Here  I  learned 
that  a  duel  had  just  been  fought  between  Lieutenant  0. 
and  Mr.  P.,  both  of  Colonel  Mayland's  regiment  of  dra- 


210  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

goons,  and  both  of  whom  were  yesterday  on  the  most 
intimate  terms  of  friendship.  Mr.  0.  killed  his  antagonist 
on  the  spot,  and  received  a  dangerous  wound  in  his  thigh. 
When  I  visited  him,  his  wound  had  been  dressed,  and  I 
was  astonished  at  the  calmness  and  composure  with  which 
he  related  all  the  particulars  of  this  melancholy  and  mur 
derous  catastrophe,  and  the  agonizing  state  of  mind  of  his 
late  friend  in  his  dying  moments.  The  duel  originated  in 
a  trivial  misunderstanding,  which  excited  these  close  friends 
to  assume  the  character  of  assassins,  and  to  hazard  life  for 
life.  Nor  did  0.  discover  the  least  sorrow  or  remorse  of 
conscience  for  having  sacrificed  the  life  of  a  friend  and 
valuable  officer  to  the  mistaken  points  of  honor! 

30th. — Another  dreadful  appeal  has  this  day  been  made 
to  the  deadly  combat  on  a  point  of  "honor.  The  parties 
were  Lieutenant  S.  and  Mr.  L.  a  volunteer  in  the  army; 
the  latter  gentleman  fell,  and  instantly  expired;  his  mur 
derer  escaped  uninjured.  Thus  have  two  valuable  lives 
been  sacrificed  within  two  days,  to  what  is  termed  princi 
ples  of  honor,  or  rather  to  the  vindictive  spirit  of  malice 
and  revenge.  Is  there  no  remedy  for  this  fashionable 
folly,  this  awful  blindness  and  perversion  of  mind,  this 
barbarous  and  infernal  practice,  this  foul  stain  on  the  his 
tory  of  man!  The  following  anecdote  is  in  point:  The 
practice  of  duelling  had  become  alarming  in  the  Prussian 
army,  and  the  great  Frederic  was  desirous  of  checking  its 
progress.  Two  officers  of  high  rank  had  engaged  to  meet 
in  personal  combat.  The  king  commanded  that  they 
should  fight  in  his  presence,  and  at  a  time  and  place  which 
he  appointed.  When  the  parties  appeared,  they  were 
astonished  to  find  the  whole  army  paraded  to  witness  the 
combat,  a  gallows  erected,  and  a  halter  and  coffins  pre 
pared.  The  king  now  commanded  that  they  should  decide 
their  fate  in  his  presence,  and  that  the  survivor  should  be 
instantly  hung  on  the  gallows.  The  two  champions  were 
appalled,  and  glad  to  implore  his  majesty's  forgiveness ; 
and  this  example  proved  an  effectual  remedy  against  duel 
ling  in  the  Prussian  army. 

September. — Intelligence  of  an  unpleasant  and  distressing 
nature,  has  just  reached  us  from  South  Carolina.  Our 
southern  arrny,  under  the  command  of  Major-General 
Gates,  has  been  totally  defeated,  in  a  general  action  with 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  17SO.  211 

Lord  Cornwallis,  on  the  19th  of  August.  General  Gates, 
as  is  reported,  retreated  with  precipitatidh  to  the  distance 
of  eighty  miles,  to  escape  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  This 
mortifying  disaster  gives  a  severe  shock  to  our  army,  as  it 
must  be  productive  of  the  most  important  and  serious  con 
sequences  as  it  respects  the  welfare  of  the  Southern  states. 
In  his  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress,  General  Gates 
says:  "In  the  deepest  distress  and  anxiety  of  mind,  I  am 
obliged  to  acquaint  your  excellency  with  the  defeat  of  the 
troops  under  my  command."  The  letter  states  that  the 
continental  troops  displayed  their  usual  courage  and 
bravery,  but  at  the  first  onset  of  the  enemy,  the  whole  body 
of  militia  became  panic-struck,  were  completely  routed, 
and  ran  like  a  torrent,  bearing  all  before  them,  and  leaving 
the  continentals  to  oppose  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy. 
This  victory  was  not  obtained  without  loss  on  the  part  of 
the  foe,  they  having  upwards  of  five  hundred  men,  with 
officers  in  proportion,  killed  and  wounded.  The  whole 
number  of  continental  officers  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
is  forty-eight.  Among  the  killed,  is  Baron  de  Kalb,  a 
major-general;  while  leading  on  the  Maryland  and  Dela 
ware  troops,  he  was  pierced  with  eleven  wounds,  and  soon 
after  expired.  He  was  a  German  by  birth,  a  brave  and 
meritorious  officer,  a  knight  of  the  order  of  military  merit, 
and  a  brigadier-general  in  the  armies  of  France.  He  had 
served  three  years,  with  high  reputation,  in  the  American 
army.  General  Gates'  command  in  this  army  is  said  to 
consist  of  three  thousand,  of  which  number  were  only  nine 
hundred  continental  regulars.  The  royalists,  under  Lord 
Cornwallis,  were  upwards  of  three  thousand  two  hundred, 
and  a  great  part  of  them  regular  troops.  This  very  unfor 
tunate  event  has  given  an  impression  universally  unfavor 
able  to  the  character  and  conduct  of  General  Gates,  as  he 
has  disappointed  the  high  expectations  of  the  public.  He 
is  indeed  a  painful  example  of  the  vicissitudes  of  the  for 
tune  of  war;  but  it  ought  not  to  be  expected  that  an  officer 
should  be  held  accountable  for  the  strokes  of  fortune ;  nor 
for  the  effects  of  superior  force  or  address  in  the  enemy. 
Considering  the  former  high  character  and  -meritorious 
services  of  the  general,  we  carraot  justly  suspect  him  to 
be  chargeable  with  any  deficiency  in  point  of  integrity  or 


212  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

conduct,  and  time  and  investigation  must  decide  how  far 
he  has  been  guilty  of  any  culpable  error. 

btli. — Our  army  marched  from  Orangetown,  and  en 
camped  at  Steenrapie,  yesterday.  It  is  mortifying  that 
our  stock  of  provisions  is  again  exhausted;  the  soldiers 
have  for  several  days  drawn  nothing  but  one  pound  of 
flour  a  man. 

8th. — I  had  again  the  honor  of  dining  at  the  table  of 
Baron  Steuben,  in  company  with  a  number  of  officers. 
Notwithstanding  the  scarcity  of  provisions  in  camp,  the 
baron's  table  continues  to  be  well  supplied;  his  gener 
osity  is  unbounded. 

10/7? . — We  are  now  lamenting  the  loss  of  Brigadier- 
General  Poor,  who  died  last  night  of  putrid  fever.  His 
funeral  solemnities  have  been  attended  this  afternoon. 
The  corpse  was  brought  this  morning  from  Paramus,  and 
left  at  a  house  about  a  mile  from  the  burying-yard  at 
Uackensack,  whence  it  was  attended  to  the  place  of  inter 
ment  by  the  following  procession:  a  regiment  of  light- 
infantry,  in  uniform,  with  arms  reversed;  four  field-pieces; 
Major  Lee's  regiment  of  light-horse;  General  Hand  and 
his  brigade;  the  major  on  horseback;  two  chaplains;  the 
horse  of  the  deceased,  with  his  boots  and  spurs  suspended 
from  the  saddle,  led  by  a  servant;  the  corpse  borne  by 
four  Serjeants,  and  the  pall  supported  by  six  general  offi 
cers.  The  coffin  was  of  mahogany,  and  a  pair  of  pistols 
and  two  swords,  crossing  each  other  and  tied  with  black 
crape,  were  placed  on  the  top.  The  corpse  was  followed 
by  the  officers  of  the  New  Hampshire  brigade;  the  officers 
of  the  brigade  of  light-infantry,  which  the  deceased  had 
lately  commanded.  Other  officers  fell  in  promiscuously, 
and  were  followed  by  his  Excellency  General  Washington, 
and  other  general  officers.  Having  arrived  at  the  bury 
ing-yard,  the  troops  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  resting 
on  their  arms  reversed,  and  the  procession  passed  to  the 
grave,  where  a  short  eulogy  was  delivered  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Evans.  A  band  of  music,  with  a  number  of  drums 
and  fifes,  played  a  funeral  dirge,  the  drums  were  muffled 
with  black  crape,  and  the  officers  in  the  procession  wore 
crape  round  the  left  arm.  The  regiment  of  light-infantry 
were  in  handsome  uniform,  and  wore  in  their  caps  long 
feathers  of  black  and  red.  The  elegant  regiment  of  horse, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  213 

commanded  by  Major  Lee,  being  in  complete  uniform  and 
well  disciplined,  exhibited  a  martial  and  noble  appearance. 
No  scene  can  exceed  in  grandeur  and  solemnity  a  military 
funeral.  The  weapons  of  war  reversed,  and  embellished 
with  the  badges  of  mourning,  the  slow  and  regular  step 
of  the  procession,  the  mournful  sound  of  the  unbraced 
drum  and  deep-toned  instruments,  playing  the  melancholy 
dirge,  the  majestic  mien  and  solemn  march  of  the  war- 
horse,  all  conspire  to  impress  the  mind  with  emotions 
which  no  language  can  describe,  and  which  nothing  but 
the  reality  can  paint  to  the  liveliest  imagination.  General 
Poor  was  from  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  He  was  a 
true  patriot,  who  took  an  early  part  in  the  cause  of  his 
country,  and  during  his  military  career  was  respected  for 
his  talents  and  his  bravery,  and  beloved  for  the  amiable 
qualities  of  his  heart.  But  it  is  a  sufficient  eulogy  to  say, 
that  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  Washington. 

Ilt/i. — We  had  a  most  violent  shower  of  rain,  accompa 
nied  with  tremendous  peals  of  thunder  and  lightning;  we 
were  obliged  to  quit  our  beds  in  the  night,  but  no  part  of 
our  marquee  could  shield  us  from  the  drenching  rains — 
not  a  blanket  about  us  remained  dry. 

12^A. — A  soldier  was  executed  for  robbery ;  he  was  one 
of  five  who  broke  into  a  house  with  their  arms,  and  rob 
bed  the  inhabitants  of  a  sum  of  money  and  many  valuable 
articles.  He  conducted  with  fortitude  at  the  gallows. 

13th. — The  army  was  paraded  to  be  reviewed  by  Gen 
eral  Washington,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  Indian 
chiefs.  His  excellency,  mounted  on  his  noble  bay  charger, 
rode  in  front  of  the  line  of  the  army,  and  received  the 
usual  salute.  Six  Indian  chiefs  followed  in  his  train,  ap 
pearing  as  the  most  disgusting  and  contemptible  of  the 
human  race;  their  faces  painted  of  various  colors,  their 
hair  twisted  into  bunches  on  the  top  of  their  heads,  and 
dressed  in  a  miserable  Indian  habit,  some  with  a  dirty 
blanket  over  the  shoulders,  and  others  almost  naked. 
They  were  mounted  on  horses  of  the  poorest  kind,  with 
undressed  sheep  skins,  instead  of  saddles,  and  old  ropes 
for  bridles.  These  bipeds  could  not  refrain  from  the  in 
dulgence  of  their  appetites  for  rum  on  this  occasion,  and 
some  of  them  fell  from  their  horses  on  their  return  to  head 
quarters.  This  tribe  of  Indians  is  friendly  to  America, 


214  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

and  it  is  good  policy  to  show  them  some  attention,  and 
give  them  an  idea  of  the  strength  of  our  army. 

20th. — The  army  decamped  from  Steenrapie  this  morn- 
in<i,  and  encamped  at  Orangetown,  or  Tappan.  His  Ex 
cellency  General  Washington,  with  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette  and  General  Knox,  with  a  splendid  retinue,  left 
the  camp  on  the  17th  instant,  bound  to  Hartford  in  Con 
necticut,  to  have  an  interview  with  the  commanding  offi 
cers  of  the  French  fleet  and  army,  which  have  lately  arrived 
at  Rhode  Island. 

1  have  just  been  introduced  to  three  young  clergymen, 
from  Connecticut,  Mr.  Lockwood,  Mr.  Ely,  and  Mr.  Joel 
Barlow;  the  latter  is  a  chaplain  in  the  Connecticut  line, 
and  is  said  to  possess  a  poetical  genius.  Being  present 
when  he  made  a  prayer  in  public,  it  was  remarked  that 
his  performance  was  very  ordinary,  and  it  was  replied  that 
the  gentleman  had  not  been  much  accustomed  to  public 
performances,  and  that  he  was  more  calculated  to  attain  to 
eminence  in  the  art  of  poetry  than  in  the  clerical  profession. 

21st. — Major-General  Greene  succeeds  to  the  command 
of  our  army,  in  the  absence  of  his  Excellency  General 
Washington.  This  gentleman  is  a  native  of  the  state  of 
Rhode  Island.  His  father  was  an  anchor-smith,  and  his 
business  in  that  line  was  very  extensive.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  when  about  to  engage 
in  a  military  station,  they  remonstrated  with  him,  as  war 
was  a  violation  of  the  established  principles  of  their  sect. 
But  his  patriotism  and  ardent  zeal  for  the  cause  of  liberty 
were  irresistible,  and  he  was,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  ap 
pointed  a  brigadier-general  by  his  government  in  the  year 
1775.  After  the  battle  of  Lexington,  actuated  by  a  native 
martial  ardor,  he  repaired  to  Cambridge,  and,  with  the 
troops  under  his"  command,  joined  the  continental  army 
under  General  Washington.  General  Greene  has  con 
ducted  in  a  manner  to  meet  the  expectations  and  full  ap 
probation  of  the  public,  and  has  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major-general.  By  his  military  talents,  skill  and 
judgment,  he  has  acquired  a  character  of  the  highest  order, 
arid  is  held  in  respect  and  estimation  throughout  the  army, 
as  second  only  to  the  commander-in-chief.  It  is  the  pre 
vailing  sentiment,  that  if  in  any  event  of  Providence  we 
should  be  deprived  of  our  chief  commander,  General 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  215 

Greene  is  of  all  others  the  most  suitable  character  to  be 
his  successor,  and  in  this  sentiment  there  is  the  greatest 
reason  to  believe  that  the  illustrious  Washington  himself 
would  readily  coincide. 

2Qth. — At  three  o'clock  this  morning  an  alarm  was 
spread  throughout  our  camp.  Two  regiments  from  the 
Pennsylvania  line  were  ordered  to  march  immediately  to 
"West  Point,  and  the  whole  army  to  be  held  in  readiness 
to  march  at  a  moment's  warning.  It  was  soon  ascertained 
that  this  sudden  movement  was  in  consequence  of  the 
discovery  of  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  events  in 
modern  history,  and  in  which  the  interposition  of  Divine 
Providence  is  remarkably  conspicuous.  It  is  the  treach 
erous  conspiracy  of  Major-General  Arnold,  and  the  cap 
ture  of  Major  John  Andre,  adjutant-general  to  the  British 
army.  The  army  being  paraded  this  morning,  the  follow 
ing  communication  in  the  orders  of  General  Greene  was 
read  by  the  adjutants  to  their  respective  regiments: 

"  Treason,  of  the  blackest  dye,  was  yesterday  discovered.  General 
Arnold,  who  commanded  at  West  Point,  lost  to  every  sentiment  of 
honor,  of  private  and  public  obligation,  was  about  to  deliver  up  that 
important  post  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Such  an  event  must  have 
given  the  American  cause  a  dangerous,  if  not  a  fatal  wound;  happily 
the  treason  has  been  timely  discovered,  to  prevent  the  fatal  misfortune. 
The  providential  train  of  circumstances  which  led  to  it,  affords  the  most 
convincing  proofs  that  the  liberties  of  America  are  the  object  of  Divine 
protection.  At  the  same  time  that  the  treason  is  to  be  regretted,  the 
general  cannot  help  congratulating  the  army  on  the  happy  discovery. 
Our  enemies,  despairing  of  carrying  their  point  by  force,  are  practising 
every  base  art  to  effect  by  bribery  and  corruption  what  they  cannot  ac 
complish  in  a  manly  way.  Great  honor  is  due  to  the  American  army, 
that  this  is  the  first  instance  of  treason  of  the  kind,  where  many  were  to 
be  expected  from  the  nature  of  our  dispute;  the  brightest  ornament  in 
the  character  of  the  American  soldiers  is,  their  having  been  proof  against 
all  the  arts  and  seductions  of  an  insidious  enemy.  Arnold  has  made  his 
escape  to  the  enemy,  but  Major  Andre,  the  adjutant-general  in  the 
British  army,  who  came  out  as  a  spy  to  negotiate  the  business,  is  our 
prisoner." 

West  Point  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  highlands, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  sixty  miles  above  New 
York,  and  seven  below  Fishkill.  It  is  a  strongly-fortified 
castle,  which,  with  its  dependencies,  is  considered  by  Gen- 
fcral  Washington  as  the  key  which  locks  the  communica 
tion  between  the  Eastern  and  Southern  states;  and  of  all 
the  posts  in  the  United  States,  this  is  the  most  important. 


216  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

The  position  is  remarkably  well  calculated  by  nature  for 
a  defensive  post,  being  on  a  bend  of  the  river,  with  rocky 
ridges  rising  one  above  another,  and  the  lofty  summit  is 
covered  with  a  range  of  redoubts  and  batteries,  planned 
by  the  most  skillful  engineers.  The  most  elevated  and 
formidable  fortress  is  erected  on  a  natural  platform  of 
rocks,  very  steep,  and  almost  inaccessible  on  every  side; 
this  is  called  "Fort  Putnam,"  from  the  general  who  had 
the  principal  share  in  its  plan  and  construction.  It  over 
looks  the  whole  plain  below,  and  commands  a  landscape- 
view  thirty  miles  in  extent,  the  Hudson  having  tho 
appearance  of  a  vast  canal,  cut  through  huge  mountains. 
As  additional  security,  an  iron  chain  of  immense  strength 
is  thrown  across  at  the  short  bend  of  the  river,  and  fixed 
to  huge  blocks  on  each  shore,  and  under  the  fire  of  bat 
teries  on  both  sides  the  river.  The  links  of  this  chain  are 
about  twelve  inches  wide,  and  eighteen  long,  the  bars 
about  two  inches  square.  It  is  buoyed  up  by  very  large 
logs,  of  about  sixteen  feet  long,  pointed  at  the  ends  to 
lessen  their  opposition  to  the  force  of  the  current  at  flood 
and  ebb  tide.  The  logs  are  placed  at  short  distances  from 
each  other,  the  chain  carried  over  them  and  made  fast  to 
each  by  staples.  There  are  also  a  number  of  anchors 
dropped  at  proper  distances,  with  cables  made  fast  to  the 
chain  to  give  it  a  greater  stability.  Such  is  the  formida 
ble  state  and  strength  of  this  post,  that  it  has  received  the 
appellation  of  the  American  Gibraltar,  and  when  properly 
guarded,  may  bid  defiance  to  an  army  of  twenty  thousand 
men.  General  Arnold  was  well  apprised  of  the  great 
importance  of  this  fortress;  no  position  in  America  could 
afford  the  British  greater  advantages.  It  commands  the 
whole  extent  of  country  on  the  Hudson,  from  New  York 
to  Canada,  and  secures  a  communication  between  the 
Eastern  and  Southern  states. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  American  war,  General 
Arnold  has  been  viewed  in  the  light  of  a  brave  and  heroic 
officer,  having  exhibited  abundant  proof  of  his  military 
ardor  and  invincible  temper.  He.  has  fought  in  various 
battles,  with  an  intrepid  gallantry  which  cannot  be  ex 
ceeded,  and  it  is  from  his  bravery  in  the  field,  more  than 
any  intrinsic  merit,  that  his  character  and  fame  have  been 
established.  His  meritorious  services  have  been  amply 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  217 

rewarded  by  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  major-general, 
but  his  name  will  now  be  transmitted  to  posterity  with 
marks  of  infamy,  and  the  pages  of  our  history  will  be 
tarnished  by  the  record  of  crimes  of  the  most  atrocious 
character  by  a  native  of  our  land.  After  the  evacuation 
of  Philadelphia  by  the  British,  Arnold  vas  appointed  to 
the  command  in  that  city,  and  such  was  his  conduct,  as 
respects  both  his  official  station  and  individual  concerns, 
that  his  former  standing  and  important  services  could  no 
longer  shield  him  from  public  odium  and  the  just  censure 
of  the  government.*  Being  afterward,  by  his  own  solicit 
ation,  intrusted  with  the  command  of  the  post  at  West 
Point,  he  engaged  in  a  secret  correspondence  with  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  and  actually  agreed  to  put  him  in  posses 
sion  of  this  very  important  garrison.  The  British  general, 
ever  ready  to  avail  himself  of  treachery  to  accomplish  an 
object  which  he  could  not  achieve  by  the  strength  of  his 
arms,  selected  Major  John  Andre,  his  adjutant-general 
and  aid-de-camp,  to  have  a  personal  interview  with  the 
traitor,  to  mature  the  plan,  and  make  arrangements  for 
the  surrender  of  the  post.  A  British  sloop-of-war,  called 
the  Vulture,  came  up  the  North  river,  and  anchored  near 
King's  ferry,  about  twelve  miles  below  West  Point.  On 
board  of  this  vessel  were  a  Colonel  Robinson,  and  Major 
Andre,  under  the  assumed  name  of  John  Anderson.  A 
communication  was  now  maintained  between  Arnold  and 
the  persons  on  board  the  Vulture,  without  exciting  the 
least  suspicion  of  treasonable  designs.  But  a  personal 
interview  was  found  necessary,  and  the  place  chosen  for 
this  purpose  was  the  beach  near  the  house  of  Joshua 
Smith,  Esquire,  who  has  long  been  suspected  of  a  pre 
dilection  for  the  British  interest.  In  the  night  of  the  21st 
instant,  Smith,  by  the  desire  of  Arnold,  went  with  a  boat, 
rowed  by  some  men  employed  on  his  farm,  and  brought 
Major  Andre,  alias  John  Anderson,  on  shore,  where  he 
was  received  by  Arnold,  and  conducted  to  the  house  of 
Smith,  within  our  lines.  Andre  remained  concealed  at 
Smith's  house  till  the  following  night,  when  he  became 
extremely  anxious  to  return  on  board  the  Vulture;  but 
the  boatmen,  whom  Arnold  and  Smith  had  seduced  to 
bring  him  on  shore  the  preceding  night,  could  not  be 
*  See  Life  of  Arnold  in  the  Appendix. 


218  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  i 

prevailed  on  to  reconduct  him  on  board,  as  the  Vulture 
had  been  driven  from  her  station  by  a  cannon  on  shore. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  procure  a  boat  and  men  for  the 
purpose,  it  was  resolved  that  Andre  should  return  to  New 
York  by  land,  to  which  he  reluctantly  submitted,  as  the 
only  alternative,  to  escape  the  danger  into  which  he  had 
been  betrayed.  For  this  hazardous  attempt  Arnold  and 
Smith  furnished  him  with  a  horse,  and  with  clothes,  in 
exchange  for  his  military  uniform;  and  Arnold  gave  him 
a  passport  under  the  fictitious  name  of  John  Anderson,  as 
being  on  public  business.  Thus  prepared,  and  accompa 
nied  by  Smith  part  of  the  way,  he  proceeded  on  his 
journey.  The  passport  served  his  purpose  till  he  got  be 
yond  all  our  out-posts  and  guards  without  suspicion. 
They  lodged  together  at  Crompond  that  night,  and  Smith 
having  given  him  directions  about  the  road,  left  him  the 
next  morning,  within  about  thirty  miles  of  New  York. 
Having  arrived  at  Tarrytown,  however,  near  the  lines  of 
the  royal  army,  Andre  was  arrested  by  one  of  three  men, 
who  were  patrolling  between  the  out-posts  of  the  two 
armies.  He  held  his  horse  by  the  bridle,  till  his  two 
companions  came  from  their  concealment  to  his  assistance. 
This  was  the  moment  which  was  to  decide  the  fate  of  the 
adjutant-general  of  the  royal  army.  Alarmed  and  discon 
certed,  instead  of  producing  his  passport,  he  asked  where 
they  belonged ?  They  replied,  "To  below,"  alluding  to 
New  York.  "And  so  do  1,"  said  Andre;  "I  am  a  British 
officer,  on  urgent  business,  and  must  not  be  detained." 
He  was  soon,  however,  undeceived,  and  confounded  on 
being  obliged  to  yield  himself  a  prisoner,  and  finding  his 
passport,  though  having  the  authority  of  Arnold's  signa 
ture,  availed  him  nothing.  His  captors,  suspecting  that 
they  had  taken  a  valuable  prize,  resolved  to  hold  him  in 
durance,  and  realize  his  worth.  The  unfortunate  prisoner 
now  produced  his  gold  watch,  and  said,  "This  will  con 
vince  you  that  I  am  a  gentleman,  and  if  you  will  suffer 
me  to  pass,  I  will  send  to  New  York,  and  give  you  any 
amount  you  shall  name,  in  cash,  or  in  dry  goods;"*  and, 

*  English  goods  were,  at  that  time,  more  valuable  than  gold  or  silver. 
It  has  in  general  been  understood,  that  Andre  offered  his  captors  his 
horse,  his  purse,  and  a  valuable  watch,  but  Dr.  Eustis  assures  me  that 
the  above  are  the  facts,  as  stated  to  him  by  Isaac  Van  Vert,  who  first 
stopped  Andre. 


MAJOR  JOHN  ANDRE. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  219 

pointing  to  an  adjacent  wood,  "you  may  keep  me  in  that 
wood  till  it  shall  be  delivered  to  you."  All  his  offers, 
however,  were  rejected  with  disdain,  and  they  declared 
that  ten  thousand  guineas,  or  any  other  sum,  would  be  no 
temptation.  It  is  to  their  virtue,  no  less  glorious  to  America, 
than  Arnold's  apostacy  is  disgraceful,  that  his  detestable 
crimes  are  discovered.  Their  names  are  John  Paulding, 
David  Williams,  and  Isaac  Van  Vert.*  Taking  their 
prisoner  into  the  bushes,  to  undergo  a  search  and  exam 
ination,  they  found,  concealed  in  his  boots,  the  important 
papers,  containing  exact  returns  of  the  state  of  the  forces, 
ordnance  and  defences  at  West  Point  and  its  dependencies, 
with  critical  remarks  on  the  works,  with  a  return  of  the 
number  of  troops  at  West  Point,  and  their  distribution; 
copies  of  confidential  letters  from  General  Washington, 
&c.,  &c.,  all  in  the  hand-writing  of  General  Arnold.  Be 
sides  which,  it  is  ascertained  that  the  traitor  carried  with 
him  to  the  interview  a  general  plan  of  West  Point  and  its 
vicinity,  and  all  the  works,  and  also  particular  plans  of 
each  work  on  a  large  scale,  elegantly  drawn  by  the  engi 
neer  at  that  post.  But  these  were  not  given  up  to  Major 
Andre;  it  is  supposed  they  were  to  be  delivered  at  a 
future  time.  The  captors  now  very  properly  delivered 
their  prisoner,  with  the  papers  found  on  him,  into  the 
hands  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jameson,  the  commanding 
officer  on  our  lines.  Andre,  with  the  view,  no  doubt,  of 
giving  Arnold  an  opportunity  to  escape,  had  the  address 
to  induce  Colonel  Jameson  to  inform  the  traitor,  by  letter, 
that  John  Anderson  was  taken  on  his  way  to  New  York. 
It  is  probable  that  Colonel  Jameson  had  not  examined  the 
papers  in  his  possession,  or  it  may  well  be  supposed  that, 
having  such  ample  evidence  before  him,  he  would  have 

*  Congress  resolved  "  That  they  have  a  high  sense  of  the  virtuous  and 
patriotic  conduct  of  John  Paulding,  David  Williams,  and  Isaac  Van 
Vert,  In  testimony  whereof,  ordered,  that  each  of  them  receive,  annually, 
two  hundred  dollars  in  specie,  or  an  equivalent  in  the  current  money  of 
these  states,  during  life,  and  that  the  Board  of  War  be  directed  to  pro 
cure  each  of  them  a  silver  medal,  on  one  side  of  which  shall  be  a  shield 
with  this  inscription,  Fidelity,  and  on  the  other,  the  following  motto, 
Vincit  amor  Patrice,  and  forward  them  to  the  Commander-in-chief,  who 
is  requested  to  present  the  same  with  a  copy  of  this  resolution,  and  the 
thanks  of  Congress  for  their  fidelity,  and  the  eminent  service  they  have 
rendered  their  country." 
15 


220  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

hesitated  before  complying  with  this  request ;  but,  unsus 
picious  of  treachery,  and  under  the  embarrassment  of  the 
moment,  as  though  his  mind  was  bewildered,  or  devoid  of 
reason,  he  immediately  despatched  an  express  to  Arnold, 
at  Kobinson's  house,  with  the  intelligence. 

After  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  Arnold  to  receive 
the  information  and  make  his  escape,  Major  Andre  de 
clared  himself  to  Colonel  Jameson  to  be  the  adjutant-gen 
eral  of  the  British  army.  Sensible  of  the  finesse  which 
had  been  practised  on  him,  Colonel  Jameson  now  de 
spatched  an  express  to  meet  General  Washington,  on  his 
return  from  Hartford  to  Arnold's  quarters,  with  an  account 
of  the  capture  of  Major  Andre,  and  the  papers  which  were 
found  on  him,  and  this  was  accompanied  by  a  letter  from 
the  prisoner,  disclosing  to  his  excellency  his  real  charac 
ter  and  condition,  and  relating  the  manner  of  his  capture, 
&c.  It  unfortunately  happened  that  the  express  took  a 
different  road,  and  missed  of  meeting  the  commander-in- 
chief,  and  Arnold  first  received  the  information  about  ten 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  instant.  At  this  mo 
ment  Major  Shaw  and  Dr.  McIIeriry,  two  of  his  excel 
lency's  aids,  had  arrived,  and  were  at  breakfast  at  Arnold's 
table.  His  confusion  was  visible,  but  no  one  could  devise 
the  cause.  Struck  with  the  pressing  danger  of  his  situa 
tion,  expecting  General.  Washington  would  soon  arrive, 
the  guilty  traitor  called  instantly  for  a  "horse,  any  one,  even 
if  a  wagon  horse" — bid  a  hasty  adieu  to  his  wife,  and  en 
joined  a  positive  order  on  the  messenger  not  to  inform 
that  he  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  Colonel  Jameson, 
and  having  repaired  to  his  barge,  he  ordered  the  cock 
swain  with  eight  oarsmen  to  proceed  down  the  river,  and 
he  was  soon  on  board  the  Vulture,  which  Andre  had  left 
two  nights  before,  and  which  immediately  sailed  with  her 
prize  ibr  New  York.  General  Washington  arrived  about 
twelve  o'clock,  and  was  informed  that  Arnold  had  ab 
sented  himself,  saying  he  was  going  to  West  Point,  and 
should  soon  return.  His  excellency  passed  over  the  river 
to  view  the  works  there;  but,  not  finding  Arnold  at  his 
post,  he  returned,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  him  at  his  quar 
ters.  But  here  he  was  again  disappointed,  for  no  person 
could  account  for  his  absence.  Mrs.  Arnold  was  now  in 
her  chamber,  in  great  agitation  and  distress,  deprived  of 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1780.  221 

her  reason,  and  Dr.  Eustis  in  attendance.  At  a  lucid  in 
terval  she  inquired  of  the  doctor  if  General  Washington 
was  in  the  house,  desiring  to  see  him.  Believing  that  she 
intended  to  say  something  which  would  explain  the  secret 
of  Arnold's  unaccountable  absence,  he  hastened  below, 
and  conducted  the  general  to  her  chamber,  who  remained 
no  longer  than  to  hear  her  deny  that  he  was  General 
Washington,  and  to  witness  the  return  of  her  distraction. 
His  excellency  sat  down  to  dine,  but  soon  rose  from  table 
with  apparent  agitation,  called  out  Colonel  Lamb,  the 
commander  of  artillery  at  West  Point,  and  expressed  to 
him  his  suspicion  that  Arnold  had  deserted  to  the  enemy. 
In  less  than  two  hours  it  was  ascertained  that  the  conjec 
ture  was  too  well  founded,  for  the  despatches  arrived  from 
Colonel  Jameson,  with  an  account  of  the  capture  of  Major 
Andre," accompanied  by  his  own  letter  of  confession.  Major 
Andre  was  conducted  to  West  Point,  and  thence  to  head 
quarters  at  Tappan ;  and  a  board,  consisting  of  fourteen 
general  officers,  is  constituted  and  directed  to  sit  on  the 
29th  instant,  for  his  trial.  It  was  to  be  expected  that  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  would  make  every  possible  overture  and 
exertion,  with  the  hope  of  rescuing  his  friend,  and  the 
adjutant-general  of  his  army,  from  an  ignominious  death. 
Accordingly  he  addressed  General  Washington,  claimed 
the  release  of  Major  Andre,  alleging  that  he  ought  not  to 
be  considered  in  the  character  of  a  spy,  as  he  had  a  pass 
port  from,  and  was  transacting  business  under  the  sanction 
of  General  Arnold;  but  arguments  so  obviously  absurd 
and  futile  could  have  no  influence,  and  the  prisoner  was 
ordered  before  the  military  tribunal  for  trial,  and  the  fol 
lowing  aie  the  particulars  of  their  proceedings. 

Major  Andre,  adjutant-general  to  the  British  army,  was 
brought  before  the  board,  and  the  following  letter  from 
General  Washington  to  the  board,  dated  "  Head-Quarters, 
Tappan,  September  29th,  1780,"  was  laid  before  them 
and  read: 

"GENTLEMEN:  Major  Andre,  adjutankgeneral  to  the  British  army,  will 
be  brought  before  you,  for  your  examination.  He  came  within  our  lines 
in  the  night,  on  an  interview  with  Major-General  Arnold,  and  in  an 
assumed  character;  and  was  taken  within  our  lines,  in  a  disguised  habit, 
with  a  pass  under  a  feigned  name,  and  with  the  inclosed  papers  con 
cealed  on  him.  After  a  careful  examination,  you  will  be  pleased  as 
speedily  as  possible  to  report  a  precise  state  of  his  case,  together  with 


222  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1780. 

your  opinion  of  the  light  in  which  he  ought  to  be  considered,  and  the 
punishment  that  ought  to  be  inflicted.  The  judge-advocate  will  attend 
to  assist  in  the  examination,  who  has  sundry  other  papers  relative  to  this 
matter,  which  he  will  lay  before  the  board. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen,  your 

most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"G.  WASHINGTON. 

M  To  the  Board  cf  General  Officers,  convened  at  Tappan." 

The  names  of  the  officers  composing  the  board  were 
read  to  Major  Andre,  with  the  following  letter  of  his  to 
General  Washington — namely : 

"SALEM,  24/fc  September,  1780. 

"Sin:  What  I  have  as  yet  said,  concerning  myself,  was  in  the  justifi 
able  attempt  to  be  extricated;  I  am  too  little  accustomed  to  duplicity  to 
have  succeeded. 

"I  beg  your  excellency  will  be  persuaded,  that  no  alteration  in  the 
temper  of  my  mind,  or  apprehension  for  my  safety,  induces  me  to  take 
the  step  of  addressing  you,  but  that  it  is  to  secure  myself  from  an  im 
putation  of  having  assumed  a  mean  character  for  treacherous  purposes 
or  self-interest — a  conduct  incompatible  with  the  principles  that  actuated 
me,  as  well  as  with  my  condition  in  life. 

"It  is  to  vindicate  my  fame,  that  I  speak,  and  not  to  solicit  security. 

"The  person  in  your  possession  is  Major  John  Andre,  adjutant-gen 
eral  to  the  British  army. 

"The  influence  of  one  commander  in  the  army  of  his  adversary  is  an 
advantage  taken  in  war.  I  agreed  to  meet,  on  ground  not  within  the 
posts  of  either  army,  a  person  who  was  to  give  me  intelligence;  I  came 
up  in  the  Vulture  man-of-war,  for  this  effect,  and  was  fetched  by  a  boat 
from  the  shore  to  the  beach :  being  there,  I  was  told  that  the  approach 
of  day  would  prevent  my  return,  and  that  I  must  be  concealed  till  the 
next  night.  I  was  in  my  regimentals,  arid  had  fairly  risked  my  person. 

"Against  my  stipulation,  my  intention,  and  without  my  knowledge 
beforehand,  I  was  conducted  within  one  of  your  posts.  Your  excel 
lency  may  conceive  my  sensation  on  this  occasion,  and  will  imagine  how 
much  more  I  must  have  been  affected  by  a  refusal  to  reconduct  me  back 
the  next  night,  as  I  had  been  brought.  Thus  become  a  prisoner,  I  had 
to  concert  my  escape.  /  quitted  my  uniform,  and  was  passed  another 
way  in  the  night,  without  the  American  posts  to  neutral  ground,  and 
informed  I  was  beyond  all  armed  parties,  and  left  to  press  for  New 
York.  I  was  taken  at  Tarrytown  by  some  volunteers. 

"Thus,  as  I  have  had  the  honor  to  relate,  was  I  betrayed  into  the  vile 
condition  of  an  enemy  in  disguise  within  your  posts. 

"Having  avowed  myself  a  British  officer,  I  have  nothing  to  reveal  but 
what  relates  to  myself,  which  is  true,  on  the  honor  of  an  officer  and  a 
gentleman. 

"The  request  I  have  to  make  your  excellency,  and  I  am  conscious  I 
address  myself  well,  is  that  in  any  rigor  which  policy  may  dictate,  a 
decency  of  conduct  towards  me  may  evince  that,  though  unfortunate,  1 
am  branded  with  nothing  dishonorable,  as  no  motive  could  be  mine  but 
the  service  of  my  king,  and  as  I  was  involuntarily  an  impostor. 


MILITARY  JOUIJNAL,  1780.  223 

"Another  request  is,  that  I  may  be  permitted  to  write  an  open  letter 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  another  to  a  friend  tor  clothes  and  linen. 

"I  take  the  liberty  to  mention  the  condition  of  some  gentlemen  at 
Charleston,  who,  being  either  on  parole  or  under  protection,  were  en 
gaged  in  a  conspiracy  against  us.  Though  their  situation  is  not  similar 
they  are  objects  who  may  be  set  in  exchange  for  me,  or  are  persons 
whom  the  treatment  I  receive  might  affect. 

"It  is  no  less,  sir,  in  a  confidence  in  the  generosity  of  your  mind,  than 
on  account  of  your  superior  station,  that  I  have  chosen  to  importune 
you  with  this  letter.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir 
your  excellency's  most  obedient  arid  most  humble  servant, 

"JOHN  ANDRE,  Adjutant-General. 

"  His  Excellency  General  Washington,  *-c.,  <$-c.,  <$-c." 

And  on  being  asked  whether  he  confessed  or  denied  the 
matters  contained  in  this  letter,  he  acknowledged  the  letter, 
and  in  addition  stated,  that  he  came  on  shore  from  the 
Vulture  sloop-of-war  in  the  night  of  the  21st  of  September, 
instant,  somewhere  under  the  Haverstraw  mountain.  That 
the  boat  he  came  on  shore  in,  carried  no  flag,  and  that  he 
had  on  a  surtout-coat  over  his  regimentals,  and  that  he 
wore  his  surtout-coat  when  he  was  taken.  That  he  met 
General  Arnold  on  the  shore,  and  had  an  interview  with 
him  there.  lie  also  said,  that  when  he  left  the  Vulture 
sloop-of-war,  it  was  understood  he  was  to  return  that  night ; 
but  it  was  then  doubted,  and  if  he  could  not  return,  he  was 
promised  to  be  concealed  on  shore  in  a  place  of  safety  till 
the  next  night,  when  he  was  to  return  in  the  same  manner 
he  came  on  shore;  and  when  the  next  day  came,  he  was 
solicitous  to  get  back,  and  made  inquiries  in  the  course  of 
the  day  how  he  should  return;  he  was  informed  he  could 
not  return  that  way,  and  he  must  take  the  route  he  did 
afterwards.  He  also  said,  that  the  first  notice  he  had  of 
his  being  within  any  of  our  posts,  was  his  being  challenged 
by  the  sentry,  which  was  the  first  night  he  was  on  shore. 
He  also  said,  that  in  the  evening  of  the  22d  of  September, 
instant,  he  passed  King's  ferry,  between  our  posts  of  Stony 
and  Verplanlcs  Points,  in  the  dress  he  is  at  present  in,  and 
which  he  said  was  not  his  regimentals,  and  which  dress  he 
procured  after  he  landed  from  the  Vulture,  and  when  he 
was  within  our  post,  and  that  he  was  proceeding  to  New 
York,  but  was  arrested  at  Tarry  town,  as  he  has  mentioned 
in  his  letter,  on  Saturday,  the  23d  of  September,  instant, 
about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  board  having  interrogated  Major  Andre,  about  his 


224: 


.VIILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1780. 


conception  of  his  coming  on  shore  under  the  sanction  of  a 
flag,  he  said,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  suppose  he  came 
on  shore  wider  that  sanction,  and  added,  that  if  he  came  on 
shore  under  that  sanction,  he  certainly  might  have  re 
turned  under  it. 

Major  Andre  having  acknowledged  the  preceding  facts, 
and  being  asked  whether  he  had  any  thing  to  say  re 
specting  them,  answered,  he  left  them  to  operate  with 
the  board. 

The  examination  of  Major  Andre  being  concluded,  he 
was  remanded  into  custody. 

"  The  board  having  considered  the  letter  from  his  Excellency  General 
Washington,  respecting  M:ijor  Andre,  adjutant-general  to  the  British 
army,  the  confession  of  Major  Andre,  and  the  papers  produced  to  them, 
report  to  his  excellency  the  comma nder-in-chief  the  following  facts, 
which  appear  to  them  relative  to  Major  Andre.  First,  that  he  came  on 
shore  from  the  Vulture  sloop-of-war,  in  the  night  of  the  21st  of  Septem 
ber,  instant,  on  an  interview  with  General  Arnold,  in  a  private  and  secret 
manner.  Secondly,  that  he  changed  his  dress  within  our  lines,  and 
under  a  feigned  name,  and  disguised  habit,  passed  our  works  at  Stony 
and  Verplunk's  Points,  in  the  evening  of  the  22d  of  September,  instant, 
and  was  taken  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  September,  at  Tarrytown,  in 
a  disguised  habit,  being  then  on  his  way  to  New  York;  and  when  taken 
he  had  in  his  possession  several  papers  which  contained  intelligence  for 
the  enemy.  The  board  having  maturely  considered  these  facts,  do  also 
report  to  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  that  Major  Andre,  adju 
tant-general  to  the  British  army,  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  spy  from 
the  enemy,  and  that  agreeably  to  the  law  and  usage  of  nations  it  is  their 
opinion  he  ought  to  suffer  death. 

[SIGNED]         «  NATHANIEL  GREENE,  Major-General  and  President. 

STIRLING,  "  " 

ST.  CLAIR,  "  " 

LA  FAYETTE,  «  " 

R.  HOWE,  "  « 

STEUBEN,  "  " 

SAMUEL  H.  PARSONS,  Brigadier-General. 

JAMES  CLINTON, 

HENRY  KNOX,  Artillery. 

JOHN  GLOVER, 

JOHN  PATTERSON, 

EDWARD  HAND, 

JOHN  HUNTINGTON, 

JOHN  STARK, 

JOHN  LAWRENCE,  Judge  Advocate  General" 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  September  30//>,  1780. 

"The  commander-in-chief  approves  of  the  opinion  of  the  Board  of 
General  officers,  respecting  Major  Andre,  and  orders  that  the  execution 
of  Major  Andre  take  place  to-morrow,  at  five  o'clock  P.  M." 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  225 

During  the  trial  of  this  unfortunate  officer,  he  conducted 
with  unexampled  magnanimity  and  dignity  of  character. 
He  very  freely  and  candidly  confessed  all  the  circumstances 
relative  to  himself,  and  carefully  avoided  every  expression 
that  might  have  a  tendency  to  implicate  any  other  person. 
So  firm  and  dignified  was  he  in  his  manners,  and  so  hon 
orable  in  all  his  proceedings  on  this  most  trying  occasion, 
that  he  excited  universal  interest  in  his  favor.  He  re 
quested  only  to  die  the  death  of  a  soldier,  and  not  on  a 
gibbet.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  very  pathetic  letter 
from  Major  Andre  to  General  Washington,  dated 

"TAPPAN,  October  1st,  1780. 

"SiR:  Buoyed  above  the  terrors  of  death  by  the  consciousness  of  a 
life  devoted  to  honorable  pursuits,  and  stained  with  no  action  that  can 
give  me  remorse,  I  trust  that  the  request  I  make  to  your  excellency  at 
this  serious  period,  and  which  is  to  soften  my  last  mo'ments,  will  not  be 
rejected.  Sympathy  towards  a  soldier  will  surely  induce  your  excel 
lency  and  a  military  tribunal  to  adapt  the  mode  of  my  death  to  the  feel 
ings  of  a  man  of  honor.  Let  me  hope,  sir,  if  aught  in  my  character 
impresses  you  with  esteem  towards  me — if  aught  in  my  misfortunes 
marks  me  as  the  victim  of  policy,  and  not  of  resentment — I  shall  expe 
rience  the  operation  of  these  feelings  in  your  breast  by  being  informed 
that  I  am  not  to  die  on  a  gibbet. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  excellency's  most 

obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

"JOHN  ANDRE, 
"  Adjutant- General  to  the  British  army." 

This  moving  letter,  as  may  be  supposed,  affected  the 
mind  of  General  Washington  with  the  tenderest  sympathy, 
and  it  is  reported  that  he  submitted  it  to  a  council  of  gen 
eral  officers,  who  decided  that  as  Major  Andre  was  con 
demned  as  a  spy,  the  circumstances  of  the  case  would  not 
admit  of  the  request  being  granted,  and  his  excellency, 
from  a  desire  to  spare  the  feelings  of  the  unfortunate  man, 
declined  making  a  reply  to  the  letter. 

October  1st. — I  went  this  afternoon  to  witness  the  exe 
cution  of  Major  Andre:  a  large  concourse  of  people  had 
assembled,  the  gallows  was  erected,  and  the  grave  and 
coffin  prepared  to  receive  the  remains  of  this  celebrated 
but  unfortunate  officer;  but  a  flag  of  truce  arrived  with  a 
communication  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  making  another 
and  further  proposals  for  the  release  of  Major  Andre,  in 
consequence  of  which  the  execution  is  postponed  till  to 
morrow,  at  twelve  o'clock. 


226  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1780. 

The  flag  which  came  out  this  morning  brought  General 
Robertson,  Andrew  Eliot,  and  William  Smith,  Esquires, 
for  the  purpose  of  pleading  for  the  release  of  Major  Andre, 
the  royal  army  being  in  the  greatest  afiliction  on  the  occa 
sion.  The  two  latter  gentlemen,  not  being  military  offi 
cers,  were  not  permitted  to  land,  but  General  Greene  was 
appointed  by  his  excellency  to  meet  General  Robertson  at 
Dobbs'  ferry,  and  to  receive  his  communications.  He  had 
nothing  material  to  urge,  but  that  Andre  had  come  on 
shore  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag,  and  therefore  could  not 
be  considered  as  a  spy.  But  this  is  not  true;  he  came  on 
shore  in  the  night,  and  had  no  flag,  on  business  totally  in 
compatible  with  the  nature  of  a  flag.  Besides,  Andre 
himself,  candidly  confessed  on  his  trial  that  he  did  not 
consider  himself  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag.  General 
Robertson,  having  failed  in  his  point,  requested  that  the 
opinion  of  disinterested  persons  might  be  taken,  and  pro 
posed  Generals  Knyphausen  and  Rochambeau  as  proper 
persons.  After  this  he  had  recourse  to  threats  of  retalia 
tion  on  some  people  in  New  York  and  Charleston,  but  he 
was  told  that  such  conversation  could  neither  be  heard  nor 
understood.  He  next  urged  the  release  of  Andre  on  mo 
tives  of  humanity,  saying,  he  wished  an  intercourse  of 
such  civilities  as  might  lessen  the  horrors  of  war,  and  cited 
instances  of  General  Clinton's  merciful  disposition ;  adding 
that  Andre  possessed  a  great  share  of  that  gentleman's 
affection  and  esteem,  and  that  he  would  be  infinitely 
obliged  if  he  was  spared.  He  offered  that,  if  his  earnest 
wishes  were  complied  with,  to  engage  that  any  prisoner  in 
their  possession,  whom  General  Washington  might  name, 
should  immediately  be  set  at  liberty.  But  it  must  be 
viewed  as  the  height  of  absurdity  that  General  Robertson 
should,  on  this  occasion,  suffer  himself  to  be  the  bearer  of 
a  letter  which  th$  vile  traitor  had  the  consummate  effront 
ery  to  write  to  General  Washington.  This  insolent  letter 
is  filled  with  threats  of  retaliation,  and  the  accountability 
of  his  excellency  for  the  torrents  of  blood  that  might  be 
spilled  if  he  should  order  the  execution  of  Major  Andre. 
It  should  seem  impossible  that  General  Robertson  could 
suppose  that  such  insolence  would  receive  any  other  treat 
ment  than  utter  contempt. 

October  2d. — Major  Andre  is  no  more  among  the  living. 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1780.  227 

I  have  just  witnessed  his  exit.  It  was  a  tragical  scene  of 
the  deepest  interest.  During  his  confinement  and  trial,  he 
exhibited  those  proud  and  elevated  sensibilities  which  de 
signate  greatness  and  dignity  of  mind.  Not  a  murmur  or 
a  sigh  ever  escaped  him,  and  the  civilities  and  attentions 
bestowed  on  him  were  politely  acknowledged.  Having 
left  a  mother  and  two  sisters  in  England,  he  was  heard  to 
mention  them  in  terms  of  the  tenderest  affection,  and  in 
his  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  he  recommended  them  to 
his  particular  attention. 

The  principal  guard  officer,  who  was  constantly  in  the 
room  with  the  prisoner,  relates  that  when  the  hour  of  his 
execution  was  announced  to  him  in  the  morning,  he  re 
ceived  it  without  emotion,  and  while  all  present  were 
affected  with  silent  gloom,  he  retained  a  firm  countenance, 
with  calmness  and  composure  of  mind.  Observing  his 
servant  enter  the  room  in  tears,  he  exclaimed,  "Leave  me 
till  you  can  show  yourself  more  manly!"  His  breakfast 
being  sent  to  him  from  the  table  of  General  Washington, 
which  had  been  done  every  day  of  his  confinement,  he 
partook  of  it  as  usual,  and  having  shaved  and  dressed 
himself,  he  placed  his  hat  on  the  table,  and  cheerfully  said 
to  the  guard  officers,  "I  am  ready  at  any  moment,  gentle 
men,  to  wait  on  you."  The  fatal  hour  having  arrived,  a 
large  detachment  of  troops  was  paraded,  and  an  immense 
concourse  of  people  assembled ;  almost  all  our  general  and 
field  officers,  excepting  his  excellency  and  his  staff,  were 
present  on  horseback;  melancholy  and  gloom  pervaded 
all  ranks,  and  the  scene  was  affectingly  awful.  I  was  so 
near  during  the  solemn  march  to  the  fatal  spot,  as  to  ob 
serve  every  movement,  and  participate  in  every  emotion 
which  the  melancholy  scene  was  calculated  to  produce. 
Major  Andre  walked  from  the  stone  house,  in  which  he 
had  been  confined,  between  two  of  our  subaltern  officers, 
arm  in  arm ;  the  eyes  of  the  immense  multitude  were  fixed 
on  him,  who,  rising  superior  to  the  fears  of  death,  appeared 
as  if  conscious  of  the  dignified  deportment  which  he  dis 
played.  He  betrayed  no  want  of  fortitude,  but  retained  a 
complacent  smile  on  his  countenance,  and  politely  bowed 
to  several  gentlemen  whom  he  knew,  which  was  respect 
fully  returned.  It  was  his  earnest  desire  to  be  shot,  as 
being  the  mode  of  death  most  conformable  to  the  feelings 


228  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

of  a  military  man,  and  he  had  indulged  the  hope  that  his 
request  would  be  granted.  At  the  moment,  therefore, 
when  suddenly  he  came  in  view  of  the  gallows,  he  invol 
untarily  started  backward,  and  made  a  pause.  "  Why  this 
emotion,  sir?"  said  an  officer  by  his  side.  Instantly  recov 
ering  his  composure,  he  said,  "I  am  reconciled  to  my 
death,  but  I  detest  the  mode."  While  waiting  and  stand 
ing  near  the  gallows,  I  observed  some  degree  of  trepida 
tion  ;  placing  his  foot  on  a  stone,  and  rolling  it  over  and 
choking  in  his  throat,  as  if  attempting  to  swallow.  So 
soon,  however,  as  he  perceived  that  things  were  in  readi 
ness,  he  stepped  quickly  into  the  wagon,  and  at  this  mo 
ment  he  appeared  to  shrink,  but  instantly  elevating  his 
head  with  firmness,  he  said,  "It  will  be  but  a  momenta^ 
pang,"  and  taking  from  his  pocket  two  white  handkerchiefs, 
the  provost-marshal,  with  one,  loosely  pinioned  his  arms, 
and  with  the  other,  the  victim,  after  taking  off  his  hat  and 
stock,  bandaged  his  own  eyes  with  perfect  firmness,  which 
melted  the  hearts  and  moistened  the  cheeks,  not  only  of 
his  servant,  but  of  the  throng  of  spectators.  The  rope 
being  appended  to  the  gallows,  he  slipped  the  noose  over 
his  head  and  adjusted  it  to  his  neck,  without  the  assistance 
of  the  awkward  executioner.  Colonel  Scammel  now  in 
formed  him  that  he  had  an  opportunity  to  speak,  if  he 
desired  it;  he  raised  the  handkerchief  from  his  eyes,  and 
said,  "I  pray  you  to  bear  me  witness  that  I  meet  my  fate 
like  a  brave  man."  The  wagon  being  now  removed  from 
under  him,  he  was  suspended,  and  instantly  expired;  it 
proved  indeed  "but  a  momentary  pang."  He  was  dressed 
in  his  royal  regimentals  and  boots,  and  his  remains,  in 
the  same  dress,  were  placed  in  an  ordinary  coffin,  and  in 
terred  at  the  foot  of  the  gallows ;  and  the  spot  was  conse 
crated  by  the  tears  of  thousands. 

Thus  died,  in  the  bloom  of  life,  the  accomplished  Major 
Andre,  the  pride  of  the  royal  arrny,  and  the  valued  friend 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  lie  was  about  twenty-nine  years 
of  age,  in  his  person  well  proportioned,  tall,  genteel  and 
graceful.  His  rnien  respectable  and  dignified.  His  counte 
nance  mild,  expressive  and  prepossessing,  indicative  of  an 
intelligent  and  amiable  mind.  Ilis  talents  are  said  to  have 
been  of  a  superior  cast,  and,  being  cultivated  in  early  life, 
he  had  made  very  considerable  proiiciency  in  literary  attain- 


MILITARY  JOUKJ^AL,  1780.  229 

ments.  Colonel  Hamilton,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Wash 
ington,  having  had  an  interview  with  him,  entertains  an 
exalted  opinion  of  his  character.  In  the  line  of  his  pro 
fession,  Major  Andre,  was  considered  as  a  skilful,  brave 
and  enterprising  officer,  and  he  is  reported  to  have  been 
benevolent  and  humane  to  our  people  who  have  been 
prisoners  in  New  York.  Military  glory  was  the  main 
spring  of  his  actions,  and  the  sole  object  of  his  pursuits, 
arid  he  was  advancing  rapidly  in  the  gratification  of  his 
ambitious  views,  till  by  a  misguided  zeal  he  became  a  de 
voted  victim.  He  enjo}?ed  the  confidence  and  friendship 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  being  consulted  in  his  councils  and 
admitted  to  the  secrets  of  his  cabinet.  The  heart  of  sen 
sibility  mourns  when  a  life  of  so  much  worth  is  sacrificed 
on  a  gibbet.  General  Washington  was  called  to  discharge 
a  duty  from  which  his  soul  revolted;  and  it  is  asserted 
that  his  hand  could  scarcely  command  his  pen,  when  sign 
ing  the  warrant  for  the  execution  of  Major  Andre.  But, 
however  abhorrent  in  the  view  of  humanity,  the  laws  and 
usages  of  war  must  be  obeyed,  and  in  all  armies  it  is  de 
creed  that  the  gallows  shall  be  the  fate  of  spies  from  the 
enemy.  It  was  universally  desired  that  Major  Andre 
should  experience  every  possible  favor  and  indulgence,  con 
sistent  with  his  peculiar  circumstances,  but  it  was  well  consi 
dered  that,  should  he  be  indulged  in  his  request  to  be  shot, 
it  would  imply  that  his  case  admitted  of  extenuation,  and 
it  might  be  doubted  whether  in  justice  he  ought  to  be 
convicted  as  a  spy.  The  British  general  himself  has  not 
hesitated  to  execute  several  persons  of  the  same  descrip 
tion  sent  from  our  army  into  New  York.*  Could  Arnold 

*  It  is  with  the  highest  degree  of  satisfaction,  that  I  am  enabled  to 
copy  the  following  interesting  narrative,  vouched  by  Major-Genera]  Hull, 
of  Newton,  from  Hannah  Adams'  History  of  New  England.  Let  the 
render  draw  the  striking  contrast  between  the  conduct  of  the  royalists 
and  the  Americans,  on  an  occasion  where  the  duties  of  humanity  and 
benevolence,  were  equally  and  imperiously  demanded. 

"The  retreat  of  General  Washington  left  the  British  in  complete  pos 
session  of  Long  Island.  What  would  be  their  future  operations, 
remained  uncertain.  To  obtain  information  of  their  situation,  their 
strength  and  future  movements,  was  of  high  importance.  For  this  pur 
pose,  General  Washington  applied  to  Colonel  Knovvlton,  who  commanded 
a  regiment  of  light  infantry,  which  formed  the  van  of  the  American 
army,  and  desired  him  to  adopt  some  mode  of  gaining  the  necessary 
information.  Colonel  Knowlton  communicated  this  request  to  Captain 


230  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

have  been  suspended  on  the  gibbet  erected  for  Andre,  not 
a  tear  or  a  sigh  would  have  been  produced,  but  exultation 

Hale,  of  Connecticut,  who  was  then  a  captain  in  his  regiment.  This 
young  officer,  animated  by  a  sense  of  duty,  and  considering  that  an 
opportunity  presented  itself  by  which  he  might  be  useful  to  his  country, 
at  once  offered  himself  a  volunteer  for  this  hazardous  service.  He 
passed  in  disguise  to  Long  Island,  examined  every  part  of  the  British 
army,  and  obtained  the  best  possible  information  respecting  their  situa 
tion  and  future  operations. 

"In  his  attempt  to  return,  he  was  apprehended,  carried  before  Sir  Wil 
liam  Howe,  and  the  proof  of  his  object  was  so  clear,  that  he  frankly 
acknowledged  who  he  was,  and  what  were  his  views. 

"Sir  William  Howe  at  once  gave  an  order  to  the  provost-marshal  to 
execute  him  the  next  morning. 

"The  order  was  accordingly  executed  in  a  most  unfeeling  manner, 
and  by  as  great  a  savage  as  ever  disgraced  humanity.  A  clergyman, 
whose  attendance  he  desired,  was  refused  him;  a  Bible  for  a  moment's 
devotion  was  not  procured,  though  he  requested  it.  Letters  which,  on 
the  morning  of  his  execution,  he  wrote  to  his  mother  and  other  friends, 
were  destroyed;  an-l  this  very  extraordinary  reason  given  by  the  provost- 
marshal,  'that  the  rebels  should  not  know  that  they  had  a  man  in  their 
army  who  could  die  with  so  much  firmness.' 

"Unknown  to  all  around  him,  without  a  single  friend  to  offer  him  the 
lenst  consolation,  thus  fell  as  amiable  and  as  worthy  a  young  man  as 
America  could  boast,  with  this  as  his  dying  observation,  'that  he  only 
lamented  he  had  but  one  life  to  lose  for  his  country.'  How  superior 
to  the  dying  words  of  Andre!  Though  the  manner  of  his  execution 
will  ever  be  abhorred  by  every  friend  to  humanity  and  religion,  yet  there 
cannot  be  a  question  but  that  the  sentence  was  conformable  to  the  rules 
of  wrir,  and  the  practice  of  nations  in  similar  cases. 

"It  is,  however,  a  justice  due  to  the  character  of  Captain  Hale,  to  ob 
serve,  that  his  motives  for  engaging  in  this  service  were  entirely  different 
from  those  which  generally  influence  others  in  similar  circumstances. 
'Neither  expectation  of  promotion  nor  pecuniary  reward  induced  him 
to  this  attempt.  A  sense  of  duty,  a  hope  that  he  might  in  this  way  be 
useful  to  his  country,  and  an  opinion  which  he  had  adopted,  that  every 
kind  of  service  necessary  to  the  public  good  became  honorable  by  being 
necessary,  were  the  great  motives  which  induced  him  to  engage  in  an 
enterprise  by  which  his  connexions  lost  a  most  amiable  friend  and  his 
country  one  of  its  most  promising  supporters.' 

"The  fate  of  this  unfortunate  young  man  excites  the  most  interesting 
reflections.  To  see  such  a  character,  in  the  flower  of  youth,  cheerfully 
treading  in  the  most  hazardous  paths,  influenced  by  the  purest  intentions, 
and  only  emulous  to  do  good  to  his  country,  without  the  imputation  of  a 
crime,  fall  a  victim  to  policy,  must  have  been  wounding  to  the  feelings 
even  of  his  enemies. 

"Should  a  comparison  be  drawn  between  Major  Andre  and  Captain 
Hale,  injustice  would  be  done  to  the  latter,  should  he  not  be  placed  on 
an  equal  ground  with  the  former.  Whilst  almost  every  historian  of  the 
American  Revolution  has  celebrated  the  virtues  and  lamented  the  fate 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  231 

and  joy  would  have  been  visible  on  every  countenance. 
But  General  Clinton  suffers  the  vile  and  infamous  traitor 
to  elude  the  hand  of  justice,  and  even  bestows  on  him  a 
reward  for  his  crime.  It  may  perhaps  be  suggested,  that 
in  this  last  act  of  his  life  Major  Andre  derogated  from  his 
character  and  station.  That  the  laurels  to  adorn  the  brow 
of  a  soldier,  can  only  be  acquired  in  the  field  of  battle, 
and  not  by  encouraging  acts  of  treason,  by  bribery  and 
corruption.  Surprise  and  stratagem,  it  is  well  known, 
constitute  a  valuable  part  of  the  art  of  war,  by  which 
many  important  objects  are  effected,  and  by  some  it  is  said 
that  when  acts  of  treason  are  practised,  the  infamy  de 
volves  on  the  head  of  the  traitors  alone.  In  the  present 
instance,  it  is  supposed  that  Arnold  made  the  first  overture. 
It  is  well  understood  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  enjoined  it 
on  Andre  to  transact  the  business  on  board  the  Vulture, 
and  it  was  his  own  determination  not  to  land  on  our  shore ; 
but  such  was  the  management  of  Arnold  and  his  confed 
erate,  Smith,  that  he  was  actually  compelled,  contrary  to 
his  own  judgment  and  intention,  to  come  within  our  lines, 
and  this  circumstance  alone  placed  him  in  the  character 
of  a  common  spy.  The  Commander-in-chief  was  gener 
ously  disposed  to  compassionate  his  unhappy  condition, 
and  to  soothe  and  mitigate  his  sorrow,  and  every  officer  in 
the  army  was  actuated  by  feelings  of  sympathy  and  tender 
ness  towards  him.  The  base  and  perfidious  Arnold  is  held 
in  the  utmost  abhorrence  and  detestation  throughout  our 
army,  and  his  person,  with  the  garrison  at  West  Point  into 
the  bargain,  would  have  been  a  dear  purchase  to  Sir  Henry 
for  the  life  of  his  valuable  friend  and  adjutant-general. 

West  Point  is  now  become  a  very  celebrated  and  mem 
orable  spot,  by  the  attempt  of  the  royal  general  to  obtain 
possession  of  it  through  the  defection  and  treachery  of  one 
of  our  officers,  and  the  defeat  of  the  conspiracy.  Arnold 

of  Andre,  Hale  has  remained  unnoticed,  and  it  is  scarcely  known  that  such 
a  character  ever  existed. 

"To  the  memory  of  Andre,  his  country  has  erected  the  most  magni 
ficent  monuments,  and  bestowed  on  his  i'amily  the  highest  honors  and 
most  liberal  rewards.  To  the  memory  of  Hale  not  a  stone  has  been 
erected,  nor  an  inscription  to  preserve  his  ashes  from  insult."* 

*  In  the  autumn  of  1821,  the  remains  of  Major  Andre  were  disinter 
red,  and  transported  to  England. 


232  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

was  well  apprised  of  its  importance,  and  it  was  obviously 
his  design  to  strike  a  fatal  blow  to  the  cause  of  his  native 
country,  and  it  was  his  intention  that  it  should  cost  the 
British  nothing  more  than  the  price  of  his  own  villany 
and  treason.  He  had  actually  removed  a  New  York  re 
giment  from  the  point  to  the  plain  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  and  sent  off'  a  number  of  soldiers  from  the  garrison 
to  cut  wood  at  a  distance,  and  disposed  and  arranged  the 
remaining  troops  in  such  manner  that  little  or  no  opposi 
tion  could  have  been  made,  and  an  immediate  surrender 
would  have  been  inevitable,  or  our  troops  must  have  fall 
en  a  sacrifice.  Deplorable  indeed  would  have  been  the 
event,  the  loss  of  this  highly  important  garrison  with  some 
of  our  best  officers  and  men,  the  immense  quantity  of 
ordnance  and  military  stores,  together  with  the  prodigious 
panic  and  gloom  which  at  this  critical  period  must  have 
pervaded  the  whole  people,  could  scarcely  have  failed  of 
being  productive  of  consequences  overwhelming  the  phys 
ical  powers  and  energies  of  our  country.  But  we  are  saved 
by  ^miracle,  and  we  are  confounded  in  awful  astonishment. 
In  a  private  letter,  General  Washington  thus  expresses 
himself  respecting  this  transaction : 

"  In  no  instance  since  the  commencement  of  the  war  has  the  interpo 
sition  of  Providence  appeared  more  remarkably  conspicuous  than  in  the 
rescue  of  the  post  and  garrison  at  West  Point.  How  far  Arnold  meant 
to  involve  me  in  the  catastrophe  of  this  place,  does  not  appear  by  any 
indubitable  evidence,  and  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think  he  did  not  wish 
to  hazard  the  more  important  object,  by  attempting  to  combine  two 
events,  the  lesser  of  which  might  have  marred  the  greater.  A  combi 
nation  of  extraordinary  circumstances,  and  unaccountable  deprivation 
of  presence  of  mind  in  a  man  of  the  first  abilities,  and  the  virtue  of 
three  militia-men,  threw  the  adjutant-general  of  the  British  forces,  with 
full  proof  of  Arnold's  intention,  into  our  hands,  and  but  for  the  egregi 
ous  lolly  or  the  bewildered  conception  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jameson, 
who  seemed  lost  in  astonishment,  and  not  to  have  known  what  he  was 
doing,  I  should  undoubtedly  have  gotten  Arnold.  Andre  has  met  his 
fate,  and  with  that  fortitude  which  was  to  be  expected  from  an  accom 
plished  man  and  a  gallant  officer;  but  I  mistake  if  Arnold  is  suffering 
at  this  time  the  torments  of  a  mental  hell.  He  wants  feeling.  From 
some  traits  of  his  character  which  have  lately  come  to  my  knowledge, 
ne  seems  to  have  been  so  hacknied  in  crime,  so  lost  to  all  sense  of 
nonor  and  shame,  that  while  his  faculties  still  enable  him  to  continue  his 
sordid  pursuits,  there  will  be  no  time  for  remorse." 

For  the  sake  of  human  nature,  it  were  to  be  wished  that 
a  veil  could  be  for  ever  thrown  over  so  vile  an  example 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  233 

of  depravity  and  wickedness.  Traitor!  you  never  can. 
know  the  precious  enjoyment  of  a  quiet  conscience !  "While 
you  sleep,  your  heart  must  be  awake,  and  the  voice  of 
Andre  must  thrill  through  your  very  soul.  Though  you 
may  console  yourself  that  you  have  escaped  the  gallows, 
a  consciousness  of  your  crimes  and  the  infamy  and  con 
tempt  which  will  for  ever  await  you,  must  incessantly  har 
row  and  torment  your  spirit,  rendering  you  of  all  villains 
the  most  wretched  and  miserable.  The  only  atonement 
in  your  power  to  alleviate  your  poignant  mental  misery, 
is  a  humble  and  hearty  confession,  and  to  implore  in  sin 
cerity  the  forgiveness  of  Heaven  !* 

Our  brigade  and  three  others  decamped  from  Orange- 
town  on  the  7th  instant.  Our  tents  and  baggage  were  sent 
up  the  Hudson  in  boats,  and  we  took  our  route  through 
the  highlands.  The  road  was  almost  impassable  through 
a  thick  wood  and  over  high  mountains,  constantly  inter 
sected  by  prodigious  rocks,  running  brooks- and  deep  val- 
lies.  We  arrived  at  West  Point  on  the  evening  of  the  8th, 
distance  thirty-two  miles;  thof  troops  much  fatigued,  and 
our  tents  not  arrived,  took  our  sleep  for  the  night  on  the 
ground  in  the  woods  and  on  the  9th,  encamped  on  the 
plain,  near  the  banks  of  the  river.  General  Greene  is  now 
the  commander  of  this  garrison,  and  good  order  takes 
place  of  the  confusion  occasioned  by  Arnold's  elopement. 

Joshua  Smith,  Esquire,  the  confederate  of  Arnold,  has 
been  tried  by  a  court-martial,  of  which  Colonel  Henry 
Jackson  was  president;  the  evidence  against  him  and  his 
own  confession  go  to  prove  that  he  went  on  board  the 
Vulture,  in  the  night,  and  brought  on  shore  a  gentleman 
who  was  called  John  Anderson,  to  have  an  interview  with 
General  Arnold ;  that  he  secreted  him  in  his  house,  fur 
nished  hipi  with  a  horse  and  change  of  clothes,  and  that 
he  accompanied  him  through  our  out-posts,  and  directed 
him  into  the  proper  road  to  New  York.  All  this,  he  pleads 
in  his  defence,  was  by  the  express  desire  of  General  Arnold, 
who  assured  him  that  his  object  was  to  obtain  some  import 
ant  intelligence  from  New  York,  which  would  be  highly 
advantageous  to  the  public  interest.  He  considered  him 
self,  therefore,  in  the  character  of  a  conndental  ageut  in 

*  See  the  character  of  Arnold,  in  the  Appendix. 


234  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

the  employment  of  Arnold,  without  suspicion  of  treasona 
ble  conduct  in  this  officer.  This  pretence  is  plausible, 
and  it  is  his  good  fortune  that  no  positive  evidence  could 
be  produced  to  countervail  his  assertions.  Though  his 
actions  appear  criminal,  yet  it  is  possible  his  motives  and 
views  rnay  have  been  laudable.  The  want  of  positive 
evidence,  therefore,  of  his  criminality,  prevented  his  con 
viction  ;  but  so  strong  was  the  circumstantial  proof  of  his 
guilt,  that  it  was  deemed  proper  that  he  should  be  kept  in 
confinement.  Being  seized  with  indisposition,  from  appre 
hension  and  anxiety  of  mind,  I  was  requested  to  visit  him 
in  his  prison.  I  found  him  very  conversable,  and  he  im 
mediately  entertained  me  with  a  relation  of  the  particular 
circumstances  of  his  case,  which  agreed  substantially  with 
the  above  statement.  He  promised  to  show  me  his  writ 
ten  defence,  produced  at  his  trial,  but  no  future  opportunity 
occurred.  lie  pretended  that  it  was  unjust  and  cruel  that 
he  should  be  deprived  of  his  liberty,  when  no  evidence 
of  guilt  could  be  produced  against  him.  He  was  soon 
removed  to  some  prison  in  the  country  ;*  after  which,  his 
lady  arrived,  expecting  to  find  him  here.  I  received  a 
polite  billet,  requesting  I  would  wait  on  her  at  the  house 
of  my  friend  Major  Bowman,  where  I  was  introduced  to 
her  and  to  Mrs.  B.  and  her  daughter,  with  whom  I  took 
tea  and  spent  the  evening.  Mrs.  Smith  was  grievously 
disappointed  that  her  husband  was  removed ;  she  was  very 
solicitous  to  be  informed  of  the  particular  circumstances 
which  attended  him  in  his  illness,  and  whether  he  was 
dejected  in  spirits,  and  politely  thanked  me  for  my  atten 
tion  to  him.  She  appears  to  be  an  accomplished  and  inter 
esting  woman,  but  is  in  much  distress  for  the  fate  of  her 
husband.  She  could  not  conceal  her  natural  partiality 
and  bias  in  his  favor,  and  would  willingly  have  left  the 
impressibn  which  Arnold  wished  to  make,  when  in  his 
letter  to  General  Washington,  he  says  of  his  wife,  "  she  is 
as  good  and  as  innocent  as  an  angel,  and  is  incapable  of 
doing  wrong." 

loth. — I  have  just  returned  from  Orangetown,  in  com 
pany  with  Captain  Hunt,  of  our  regiment,  where  I  was 

*  Smith  was  for  several  months  in  confinement;  but  either  from  a 
want  of  vigilance  in  his  keeper,  or  the  indifference  of  the  proper  author 
ity,  he  was  at  length  allowed  to  escape  to  New  York. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  235 

called  to  visit  his  brother,  who  was  left  sick  when  we 
marched  from  that  place.  We  dined  with  Doctors  Eustis 
and  Townsend  at  the  hospital  on  our  way,  and  with  Cap 
tain  Livingston,  a  respectable  officer,  commanding  at  Stony 
Point,  on  our  return. 

20th. — Major-General  Greene  has  been  ordered  to  the 
southward,  to  take  command  of  the  American  army  in 
the  Carol inas,  and  Major-General  Heath  succeeds  to  the 
command  of  this  post. 

We  have  the  mortifying  intelligence  that  the  enemy 
has  laid  waste  a  great  part  of  the  fertile  country  above 
Saratoga,  and  likewise  the  vicinity  of  Schenectady.  The 
party  consisted  of  Indians,  tories,  and  Canadians,  com 
manded  by  Sir  John  Johnston.  General  Van  Rensselaer, 
with  the  militia  and  some  new  levies,  engaged  the  enemv 
at  Fox's  mills,  Try  on  county,  and  after  a  very  severe  action 
of  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  forced  them  to  give  way  and 
cross  the  river,  leaving  their  plunder,  baggage  and  pris 
oners,  which  they  had  taken,  behind  them.  One  hour 
of  day-light  would  have  given  us  the  whole  party.  The 
action  was  general  and  vigorous;  we  have  to  lament  the 
loss  of  Colonel  Brown,  who  was  killed  in  skirmishing  with 
the  enemy.  The  devastation  committed  by  this  savage 
party  is  found  to  be  very  important,  as  it  respects  the  in 
habitants  of  the  north.  It  is  estimated  at  two  hundred 
dwellings,  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  bushels  of 
wheat,  with  a  proportion  of  other  grain  and  forage.  The 
same  party  destroyed  also  the  town  of  Schoharie,  but  the 
inhabitants  fortunately  secured  themselves  in  the  fort. 

Official  intelligence  is  received  of  a  very  brilliant  exploit 
of  our  militia  in  North  Carolina.  The  famous  royal  par- 
tizan,  Major  Ferguson,  was  at  the  head  of  about  one  thou 
sand  four  hundred  British  troops  and  tories.  Colonels 
Campbell,  Cleveland,  Williams,  Shelby  and  Sevier,  brave 
and  enterprising  officers,  had  collected  detached  parties  of 
militia,  and  by  agreement  the  whole  were  united,  and 
formed  a  body  amounting  to  near  three  thousand.  Colonel 
Campbell  was  appointed  their  commander.  They  imme 
diately  marched  in  pursuit  of  Major  Ferguson,  and  came 
up  with  him  advantageously  posted,  at  a  place  called 
King's  mountains.  No  time  was  lost  in  making  a  vigor 
ous  attack,  and  giving  the  enemy  a  total  defeat,  in  which 
16 


236  M1LITAKY   JUU1INAL,  1780. 

Major  Ferguson  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  men 
were  killed,  eight  hundred  made  prisoners,  and  fifteen 
hundred  stand  of  arms  taken,  with  a  trifling  loss  on  our 
side,  excepting  the  brave  Colonel  Williams,  who  received 
a  mortal  wound  after  being  crowned  with  honor. 

Congress  have  resolved  that  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States,  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  January, 
1781,  shall  consist  of  four  regiments  of  artillery,  forty-nine 
regiments  of  infantry,  exclusive  of  Colonel  Hazen's,  called 
"the  Congress'  own  regiment,"  and  one  regiment  of  arti 
ficers.  The  respective  states  are  to  furnish  their  quotas 
as  proportioned  by  Congress.  And  as,  by  the  foregoing 
arrangement,  many  deserving  officers  may  become  super 
numerary,  Congress  resolved  that,  after  the  reform  of  the 
army  takes  place,  the  officers  shall  be  entitled  to  half-pay 
for  seven  years,  in  specie  or  other  current  money  equiva 
lent,  and  to  have  grants  of  land  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
agreeably  to  the  resolution  of  the  16th  September,  1776. 

A  scarcity  of  provisions  is  again  complained  of  in  camp. 

It  has  long  been  the  desire  of  General  Washington  to 
make  some  arrangement  with  General  Clinton  for  an  ex 
change  of  prisoners;  but  many  difficulties  have  attended 
to  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  the  object.  A  partial 
exchange  has  now  been  effected;  Major-General  Lincoln, 
who  was  taken  at  Charleston,  has  been  exchanged  for 
Major-General  Phillips,  captured  at  Saratoga.  General 
Thompson  and  a  number  of  other  American  officers,  who 
have  long  been  prisoners,  are  also  liberated  by  exchange. 

November  1st. — A  most  tremendous  storm  of  wind,  snow 
and  hail  has  continued  almost  incessantly  for  two  days. 
Many  of  our  tents  were  levelled  with  the  ground,  and 
officers  and  men  exposed  without  a  shelter. 

2d. — This  is  a  day  of  public  Thanksgiving  throughout 
the  state  of  New  York,  on  occasion  of  the  discovery  of 
Arnold's  conspiracy. 

3d. — A  soldier  has  been  executed  to-day  for  desertion 
and  persuading  others  to  follow  his  example. 

A  large  detachment  of  troops  has  been  ordered  by 
General  Heath  to  be  in  readiness,  with  two  days'  provi 
sions  cooked,  to  march  on  a  foraging  expedition,  under 
command  of  Brigadier-General  Stark.  The  detachment 
crossed  the  Hudson  on  the  21st  instant,  and  paraded  on 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  237 

• 

Nelson's  point,  where  they  were  reviewed  by  the  Marquis 
de  Chastellux,  one  of  the  generals  of  the  French  army  at 
Newport.  It  is  understood  that  the  object  of  the  expedi 
tion  is  to  procure  a  quantity  of  forage  from  the  farms  on 
the  neutral  ground,  between  the  two  armies,  towards 
King's-bridge.  After  the  review,  the  marquis  crossed 
over  to  West  Point,  where  his  arrival  was  announced  by 
the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon.  The  detachment  marched 
about  ten  miles,  and  took  lodgings  on  the  ground  in  the 
woods,  beside  large  fires.  In  the  night  a  severe  storm  of 
rain  came  on,  that  drenched  our  troops,  and  becoming 
more  violent  the  next  day,  rendered  the  roads  extremely 
bad,  and  our  march  very  uncomfortable;  we  reached 
North  Castle,  seventeen  miles,  and  lodged  in  the  woods, 
where  our  fires  did  not  secure  us  from  suffering  much  by 
wet  and  cold. 

23d— Marched  to  West  Farms,  near  West  Chester, 
within  eight  miles  of  the  enemy's  works  at  King's-bridge. 
Here  we  kindled  numerous  fires  in  open  view  of  the  en 
emy,  and  in  the  evening  the  troops  were  ordered  to  leave 
the  fires  and  retire  back  about  two  miles,  and  remain 
under  arms  prepared  for  battle;  but  the  enemy  made 
no  advances. 

24:th. — Another  severe  storm  of  rain,  which  continued 
through  the  day ;  we,  however,  began  to  march  at  sun-rise, 
on  our  return,  but  soon  halted,  and  took  shelter  under  the 
bushes  near  White  Plains.  In  this  comfortless  situation, 
we  continued  through  the  day  and  night.  The  next  day, 
the  storm  continuing,  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  crowd  into 
a  house  with  some  officers  for  shelter.  26th  and  27th, 
inarched  twenty  miles  each  day,  and  reached  our  former 
station  at  this  place  before  night. 

The  country  which  we  lately  traversed,  about  fifty  miles 
in  extent,  is  called  neutral  ground,  but  the  miserable  in 
habitants  who  remain,  are  not  much  favored  with  the 
privileges  which  their  neutrality  ought  to  secure  to  them. 
They  are  continually  exposed  to  the  ravages  and  insults 
of  infamous  banditti,  composed  of  royal  refugees  and 
tories.  The  country  is  rich  and  fertile,  and  the  farms 
appear  to  have  been  advantageously  cultivated,  but  it  now 
has  the  marks  of  a  country  in  ruins.  A  large  proportion 
of  the  proprietors  having  abandoned  their  farms,  the  few 


238 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 


that  remain  find  it  im possible  to  harvest  the  produce. 
The  meadows  and  pastures  are  covered  with  grass  of  a 
summer's  growth,  and  thousands  of  bushels  of  apples  and 
other  fruit  are  rotting  in  the  orchards.  We  brought  off 
about  two  hundred  loads  of  hay  and  grain,  and  ten  times 
the  amount  might  have  been  procured,  had  teams  enough 
been  provided.  Those  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  neutral 
ground  who  were  tories,  have  joined  their  friends  in  New 
York,  and  the  whigs  have  retired  into  the  interior  of 
our  country.  Some  of  each  side  have  taken  up  arms,  and 
become  the  most  cruel  and  deadly  foes.  There  are  within 
the  British  lines  banditti  consisting  of  lawless  villains,  who 
devote  themselves  to  the  most  cruel  pillage  and  robbery 
among  the  defenceless  inhabitants  between  the  lines,  many 
of  whom  they  carry  off  to  New  York,  after  plundering 
their  houses  and  farms.  These  shameless  marauders  have 
received  the  names  of  Cow-boys  and  Skinners.  By  their 
atrocious  deeds  they  have  become  a  scourge  and  terror  to 
the  people.  Numerous  instances  have  been  related  of 
these  miscreants  subjecting  defenceless  persons  to  cruel 
torture,  to  compel  them  to  deliver  up  their  money,  or  to 
disclose  the  places  where  it  has  been  secreted.  It  is  not 
uncommon  for  them  to  hang  a  man  by  his  neck  till  ap 
parently  dead,  then  restore  him,  and  repeat  the  experiment, 
and  leave  him  for  dead.  One  of  these  unhappy  persons 
informed  rne  that  when  suffering  this  cruel  treatment,  the 
last  sensation  which  he  recollects,  when  suspended  by  his 
neck,  was  a  flashing  heat  over  him,  like  that  which  would 
be  occasioned  by  boiling  water  poured  over  his  body;'  he 
was,  however,  cut  down,  and  how  long  he  remained  on 
the  ground  insensible,  he  knows  not.  A  peaceable,  unre 
sisting  Quaker,  of  considerable  respectability,  by  the  name 
of  Quimby,  was  visited  by  several  of  these  vile  ruffians; 
they  first  demanded  his  money,  and  after  it  was  delivered, 
they  suspected  he  had  more  concealed,  and  inflicted  on 
him  the  most  savage  cruelties,  in  order  to  extort  it  from 
him.  They  began  with  what  they  call  scorching,  covering 
his  naked  body  with  hot  ashes,  and  repeating  the  applica 
tion  till  the  skin  was  covered  with  blisters;  after  this,  they 
resorted  to  the  halter,  and  hung  the  poor  man  on  a  tree  by 
his  neck ;  then  took  him  down,  and  repeated  it  a  second, 
and  even  a  third  time,  and  finally  left  him  almost  lifeless. 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1780.  239 

. — It  is  now  well  understood  that  our  detachment, 
under  the  pretext  of  a  foraging  expedition,  was  intended 
by  the  commander-in-chief  to  cooperate  with  the  main 
army  in  an  attempt  against  the  enemy's  post  on  York  isl 
and.  Boats,  mounted  on  travelling  carriages,  have  been 
kept  with  the  army  all  the  campaign.  The  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette,  at  the  head  of  his  beautiful  corps  of  light-infantry, 
constantly  advancing  in  front,  was  to  have  commenced  the 
attack  in  the  night,  and  the  whole  army  was  prepared  to 
make  a  general  attack  on  the  enemy's  works.  By  some 
movement  of  the  British  vessels,  or  other  cause,  known 
only  to  the  commander-in-chief  and  his  confidential  officers, 
this  noble  enterprise  was  unfortunately  defeated.  The 
campaign  is  now  brought  to  a  close,  without  effecting  any 
very  important  object.  We  have  several  times  offered 
the  enemy  battle,  but  they  refuse  to  accept  the  challenge. 
The  marquis  suffers  on  this  occasion  the  most  painful  dis 
appointment.  He  had  spared  no  pains  or  expense  to 
render  his  corps  of  infantry  as  fine  a  body  of  troops  as 
can  be  produced  in  any  country ;  every  officer  under  his 
command  received  from  him  a  present  of  an  elegant  sword, 
and  the  soldiers  were  put  in  uniform  mostly  at  his  ex 
pense.  The  officers  cheerfully  seconded  his  endeavors  to 
perfect  the  men  in  discipline,  and  a  noble  spirit  of  emula 
tion  universally  prevailed  among  them.  The  marquis 
viewed  this  corps  as  one  formed  and  modelled  according  to 
his  own  wishes,  and  as  meriting  his  highest  confidence. 
They  were  the  pride  of  his  heart,  and  he  was  the  idol  of 
their  regard,  who  were  constantly  panting  for  an  opportu 
nity  of  accomplishing  some  signal  achievement,  worthy  of 
his  and  their  character.  This  brilliant  corps  is  now  dis 
solved,  and  the  men  have  rejoined  their  respective  regi 
ments,  and  we  are  soon  to  retire  into  the  wilderness  to 
prepare  for  winter-quarters. 

Intelligence  is  received  from  Boston  that  his  Excellency 
John  Hancock  has  been  elected  by  the  people  of  the  state 
of  Massachusetts  the  first  governor  under  their  new  con 
stitution.  This  event  affords  universal  satisfaction,  and 
has  been  announced  in  Boston  by  public  rejoicing,  firing 
of  thirteen  cannon,  military  parade,  feu  dejoie^  and  elegant 
entertainments. 

It  is  with  inexpressible  satisfaction  that  we  learn,  the 


240 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 


patriotic  ladies  of  Philadelphia  and  its  vicinity  have  dis 
tinguished  themselves  by  a  generous  and  liberal  regard  to 
the  sufferings  of  our  soldiery,  and  have  engaged  in  the 
benevolent  work  of  raising  contributions  among  them 
selves,  and  stimulating  others,  for  the  purpose  of  affording 
a  temporary  relief  for  the  soldiers  on  service  in  that 
vicinity.  I  extract  from  the  newspapers  the  sentiments 
of  an  "American  Woman"  addressed  to  American  ladies 
relative  to  the  subject,  which  should  be  recorded  for  the 
honor  of  the  sex : 

"On  the  commencement  of  actual  war,  the  women  of  America  mani 
fested  a  firm  resolution  to  contribute  as  much  as  could  depend  on  them 
to  the  deliverance  of  their  country.  Animated  by  the  purest  patriotism, 
they  are  full  of  sorrow  at  this  day  in  not  offering  more  than  barren 
wishes  for  the  success  of  so  glorious  a  revolution.  They  aspire  to 
render  themselves  more  really  useful;  and  this  sentiment  is  universal, 
from  the  north  to  the  south  of  the  Thirteen  United  States.  Our  ambi 
tion  is  kindled  by  the  fame  of  those  heroines  of  antiquity,  who  have 
rendered  their  sex  illustrious,  and  have  proved  to  the  world  that,  if 
the  weakness  of  our  constitution,  if  opinion  and  manners  did  not  forbid 
us  to  march  to  glory  by  the  same  path  as  the  men,  we  should  at  least 
equal,  and  sometimes  surpass  them  in  our  love  for  the  public  good. 
1  glory  in  all  that  my  sex  have  done  that  is  great  and  commendable.  I 
call  to  mind  with  enthusiasm  and  with  admiration  all  those  acts  of 
courage,  of  constancy  and  patriotism,  which  history  has  transmitted  to 
us:  the  people  favored  by  Heaven,  preserved  from  destruction  by  the 
virtues,  the  zeal  and  the  resolution  of  Deborah,  of  Judith,  of  Esther — 
the  fortitude  of  the  mother  of  the  Maccabees,  in  giving  up  her  sons  to 
die  before  her  eyes — Rome  saved  from  the  fury  of  a  victorious  enemy 
by  the  efforts  of  Volumnia  and  other  Roman  ladies — so  many  famous 
sieges  where  the  women  have  been  seen  forgetting  the  weakness  of 
their  sex,  building  new  walls,  digging  trenches  with  their  feeble  hands, 
furnishing  arms  to  their  defenders,  they  themselves  darting  the  missile- 
weapons  on  the  enemy,  resigning  the  ornaments  of  their  apparel,  and 
their  fortune,  to  fill  the  public  treasury,  and  to  hasten  the  deliverance  of 
their  country;  burying  themselves  under  its  ruins;  throwing  themselves 
into  the  flames,  rather  than  submit  to  the  disgrace  of  humiliation  before 
a  proud  enemy. 

"We  are  certain  that  he  cannot  be  a  good  citizen,  who  will  not  ap 
plaud  our  efforts  for  the  relief  of  the  armies,  which  defend  our  lives,  our 
possessions,  our  liberty.  The  situation  of  our  soldiery  has  been  repre 
sented  to  me;  the  evils  inseparable  from  war,  and  the  firm  and  generous 
spirit  which  has  enabled  them  to  support  these.  But  it  has  been  said 
that  they  may  apprehend  that,  in  the  course  of  a  long  war,  the  view  of 
their  distresses  may  be  lost, and  their  services  be  forgotten.  Forgotten! 
never;  I  can  answer  in  the  name  of  all  my  sex.  Brave  Americans,  your 
disinterestedness,  your  courage,  and  your  constancy,  will  always  be  dear 
to  America,  so  long  as  she  shall  preserve  her  virtue. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1780.  241 

"  Wfi  know  that  at  a  distance  from  the  theatre  of  war,  if  we  enjoy 
any  tranquillity,  it  is  the  fruit  of  your  watchings,  your  labors,  your  dan 
gers.  If  I  live  happy  in  the  midst  of  my  family;  if  my  husband  culti 
vates  his  field,  and  reaps  his  harvest  in  peace;  if,  surrounded  with  rny 
children,  I  myself  nourish  the  youngest,  and  press  it  to  my  bosom,  with 
out  being  afraid  of  seeing  myself  separated  from  it  by  a  ferocious  en 
emy;  if  the  house  in  which  we  dwell,  if  our  barns,  our  orchards,  are  safe 
at  the  present  time  from  the  hands  of  the  incendiary;  it  is  to  you  that 
we  owe  it.  And  shall  we  hesitate  to  evidence  to  you  our  gratitude? 
shall  we  hesitate  to  wear  a  clothing  more  simple;  hair  dressed  less  ele 
gantly,  while,  at  the  price  of  this  small  privation,  we  shall  deserve  your 
benedictions?  Who  among  us  will  not  renounce  with  the  highest 
pleasure  those  vain  ornaments,  when  she  shall  consider  that  the  valiant 
defenders  of  America  will  be  able  to  draw  some  advantage  from  the 
money  which  she  may  have  laid  out  in  these? — that  they  will  be  better 
defended  from  the  rigors  of  the  seasons;  that  after  their  painful  toils 
they  will  receive  some  extraordinary  and  unexpected  relief;  that  these 
presents  will  perhaps  be  valued  by  them  at  a  greater  price,  when  they 
will  have  it  in  their  power  to  say,  This  is  the  offering  of  the  ladies!  The 
time  is  arrived  to  display  the  same  sentiments  which  animated  us  at  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution,  when  we  renounced  the  use  of  teas,  how 
ever  agreeable  to  our  taste,  rather  than  receive  them  from  our  persecu 
tors;  when  we  made  it  appear  to  them  that  we  placed  former  necessaries 
in  the  rank  of  superfluities,  when  our  liberty  was  interested;  when  our 
republican  and  laborious  hands  spun  the  flax  and  prepared  the  linen  in 
tended  for  the  use  of  our  soldiers;  when,  exiles  and  fugitives,  we  sup- 
Crted  with  courage  all  the  evils  which  are  the  concomitants  of  war. 
t  us  not  lose  a  moment:  let  us  be  engaged  to  offer  the  homage  of 
our  gratitude  at  the  altar  of  military  valor;  and  you,  our  brave  deliver 
ers,  while  mercenary  slaves  combat  to  cause  you  to  share  with  them  the 
irons  with  which  they  are  loaded,  receive  with  a  free  hand  our  offering, 
the  purest  which  can  be  presented  to  your  virtue." 

After  this  publication,  the  ladies  divided  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  into  districts,  and  a  select  number  visited 
every  house,  and  received  the  contribution.  The  method 
proposed  of  distributing  their  bounty  to  the  troops,  was 
through  the  medium  of  Mrs.  Washington,  but  in  her  ab 
sence,  through  that  of  her  husband,  the  father  and  friend 
of  the  soldiery.  From  the  kind  and  generous  exertions 
of  these  ladies,  the  soldiers  received  at  one  time  two  thou 
sand  one  hundred  and  seven  shirts,  made  by  their  own 
hands;  and  in  another  paper  it  is  mentioned  that  the  sum 
total  of  the  donations  received  by  the  ladies  of  Philadel 
phia,  in  their  several  districts,  for  the  American  army, 
amounts  to  three  hundred  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixty-six  dollars  in  paper  currency.  Such  free-will  offer 
ings  are  examples  truly  worthy  of  imitation,  and  are  to  be  con- 


242  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

sidered  as  expressions  of  kindness  and  benevolence,  which 
ought  to  be  recorded  to  the  honor  of  American  ladies. 

December  1st. — Our  brigade  is  now  ordered  into  the 
woods,  in  the  highlands,  in  the  rear  of  West  Point,  where 
we  are  to  build  log-huts  for  winter  cantonments.  We  are 
again  subjected  to  numerous  privations  and  difficulties,  to 
support  which  requires  all  our  patience  and  fortitude.  The 
soldiers,  though  very  miserably  clad,  have  been  for  some 
time  obliged  to  bring  all  the  wood  for  themselves  and 
officers  on  their  backs,  from  a.  place  a  mile  distant,  and 
almost  half  the  time  are  kept  on  half-allowance  of  bread, 
and  entirely  without  rum.  Twelve  or  fourteen  months' 
pay  are  now  due  to  us,  and  we  are  destitute  of  clothing 
and  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  weather  is  remarkably 
cold,  and  our  tents  are  comfortless. 

Wth. — For  three  days  I  have  not  been  able  to  procure 
food  enough  to  appease  my  appetite;  we  are  threatened 
with  starvation.  That  a  part  of  our  army,  charged  with 
the  defence  of  a  post  so  highly  important  to  America, 
should  be  left  in  such  an  unprovided  and  destitute  condi 
tion,  is  truly  a  matter  of  astonishment;  and  unless  a  rem 
edy  can  be  found,  our  soldiers  will  abandon  the  cause  of 
their  country,  and  we  must  submit  to  the  yoke  of  Great 
Britain,  which  we  so  much  abhor. 

20^A. — During  the  last  ten  days  we  have  experienced 
almost  continued  storms  of  rain,  high  winds,  and  disagree 
able  fogs.  Our  canvas  dwellings  afford  us  but  little 
protection  against  such  powerful  assailants;  they  are  fre 
quently  rent  asunder,  and  we  are  almost  overwhelmed 
with  inundation. 

A  very  spirited  and  honorable  enterprise  has  lately  been 
planned  and  executed  by  Major  Talmadge,  of  Colonel 
Sheldon's  regiment  of  dragoons.  The  enemy  having  large 
magazines  of  forage  and  stores  in  the  vicinity  of  fort  St. 
George,  on  Long  Island,  he  resolved  to  hazard  the  attempt 
to  seize  them  by  surprise.  Fort  St.  George  was  stockaded, 
and  covered  a  large  spot  of  ground,  having  a  square  re 
doubt,  with  a  ditch  and  abatis.  With  about  eighty  dis 
mounted  dragoons,  under  Captain  Edgar,  and  eight  or  ten 
on  horseback,  Major  Talmadge  passed  the  Sound,  where  it 
was  about  twenty  miles  from  shore  to  shore,  marched 
across  the  island  in  the  night  with  such  facility  and  ad- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  243 

dress,  that  his  enterprise  was  crowned  with  complete  suc 
cess.  The  enemy  were  not  alarmed  till  too  late  to  make 
much  resistance ;  seven,  however,  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  remainder,  amounting  to  fifty-four,  among  whom 
were  one  lieutenant-colonel,  one  captain  and  a  subaltern, 
were  made  prisoners.  The  fort  was  demolished,  two  armed 
vessels  were  burned,  and  a  large  magazine  of  hay,  said  to 
be  three  hundred  tons,  with  stores  to  a  large  amount, 
shared  the  same  fate.  Major  Talmadge  recrossed  the  Sound 
with  his  brave  party  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The 
commander-in-chief  was  so  well  pleased  with  this  exploit, 
that  he  recommended  Major  Talrnadge  to  the  notice  of 
Congress,  and  they  voted  him  their  thanks  for  his  brave 
and  spirited  conduct. 

The  extraordinary  patience  and  fortitude  which  have 
hitherto  been  so  honorably  displayed  by  our  officers  and 
soldiers  under  their  complicated  distresses,  appear  now  to 
be  exhausted.  From  repeated  disappointments  of  our 
hopes  and  expectations,  the  confidence  of  the  army  in 
public  justice  and  public  promises  is  greatly  diminished, 
and  we  are  reduced  almost  to  despair. 

The  present  crisis  is  alarming.  Regimental  officers  are 
continually  resigning  their  commissions,  and  a  large  pro 
portion  of  those  who  remain  have  pledged  themselves  to 
follow  their  example,  unless  a  redress  of  grievances  can 
soon  be  obtained.  Nothing  short  of  what  we  conceive  to 
be  justly  our  due,  a  comfortable  and  permanent  support, 
will  retain  our  officers,  however  ardent  their  desire  to 
serve  their  country.  They  exclaim,  "Let  others  come  and 
take  their  turn!  we  have  served  years  longer  than  we  ex 
pected,  and  have  acquitted  ourselves  of  duty."  All  the 
'general  officers  belonging  to  New  England  have  united  in 
a  memorial  to  their  respective  state  governments,  com 
plaining  of  our  grievances,  and  requesting  immediate  re 
lief  and  security  for  the  future.  This  memorial,  being  put 
into  the  mail,  was  taken  from  the  Fishkill  post-rider  by 
some  emissary  from  the  enemy,  and  has  been  published 
in  the  New  York  papers,  by  which  our  forlorn  situation 
has  been  exposed,  and  much  exultation  occasioned  among 
those  who  are  watching  for  our  destruction. 

The  resolution  of  Congress  for  a  new  arrangement  of 
the  army  was  not  conformable  to  the  expectations  of  the 


244  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

officers,  and  caused  uneasiness  among  them.  The  Com 
mander-in-chief  saw  that  a  storm  was  gathering,  and 
thought  it  prudent  on  this  occasion  to  communicate  his 
opinion  to  Congress  on  the  best  means  to  avert  it.  On 
the  llth  of  October,  he  informed  Congress,  "that  the  gen 
eral  topic  of  declamation  in  the  army  is,  that  it  is  as  hard 
as  dishonorable  for  men  who  had  made  every  sacrifice  to 
the  service,  to  be  turned  out  of  it,  at  the  pleasure  of  those 
in  power,  without  an  adequate  compensation.  Too  many 
of  the  officers  wish  to  get  rid  of  their  commissions,  but 
they  are  not  willing  to  be  forced  to  it." 

The  commander-in- chief,  in  his  communication  to  Con 
gress,  suggests  the  policy  of  making  ample  provision,  both 
for  the  officers  who  stay  and  for  those  who  are  reduced. 
He  recommended  what  he  thought  would  be  the  most 
economical,  the  most  politic,  and  the  most  effectual  pro 
vision,  half-pay  for  life.  "Supported,"  the  general  says, 
"by  a  prospect  of»a  permanent  dependence,  the  officers 
would  be  tied  to  the  service,  and  would  submit  to  many 
momentary  privations,  and  to  the  inconveniences  which 
the  situation  of  the  public  service  make  unavoidable.  If 
the  objection  drawn  from  the  principle  that  this  measure 
is  incompatible  with  the  genius  of  our  government,  be 
thought  insurmountable,  I  would  propose  a  substitute, 
less  eligible  in  my  opinion,  but  which  may  answer  the 
purpose:  it  is  to  make  the  present  half-pay,  for  seven 
years,  whole  pay  for  the  same  period,  to  be  advanced  at 
two  different  payments,  one  half  in  a  year  after  the  con 
clusion  of  peace,  the  other  half  in  two  years  after." 

His  excellency  also  takes  notice  of  the  injuries  and  in 
conveniences  which  attend  a  continual  change  of  officers, 
and  consequent  promotions  in  the  army. 

Soon  after  Congress  were  possessed  of  the  sentiments 
of  General  Washington,  they  resolved,  "that  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  and  commanding  officer  in  the  northern 
department,  direct  the  officers  of  each  state  to  meet  and 
agree  on  the  officers  for  the  regiments  to  be  raised  by 
their  respective  states,  from  those  who  incline  to  continue 
in  service,  and  where  it  cannot  be  done  by  agreement,  to 
be  determined  by  seniority;  and  make  return  of  those 
who  are  to  remain,  which  is  to  be  transmitted  to  Congress, 
together  with  the-  names  of  the  officers  reduced,  who  are 


MILITAEY  JOUKNAL,  1781. 


245 


to  be  allowed  half-pay  for  life.  That  the  officers  v/ho  shall 
continue  in  service  to  the  end  of  the  war,  shall  also  be 
entitled  to  half-pay  during  life,  to  commence  from  the  time 
of  their  reduction." 

Januarg  1st,  1781. — On  this,  the  first  day  of  the  irew 
year,  an  arrangement  of  our  army  takes  place,  according 
to  a  late  resolve  of  Congress.  The  supernumerary  regi 
ments  are  to  be  incorporated  with  those  which  continue 
on  the  new  establishment,  and  the  supernumerary  officers 
are  to  retire  from  service  on  the  establishment  fixed  by 
Congress,  and  are  to  be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges  and 
emoluments  which  are  to  be  allowed  to  those  who  con 
tinue  to  the  end  of  the  war.  It  being  optional  with  me 
either  to  retire  or  to  continue  in  service,  I  shall  retain  my 
commission  as  surgeon  to  Colonel  II.  Jackson's  regiment. 
We  are  encouraged  to  anticipate  more  favorable  circum 
stances  and  more  liberal  compensation — Congress  having 
at  length  passed  several  resolves,  entitling  all  officers  who 
shall  continue  in  service  till  the  end  of  the  war,  or  shall 
be  reduced  before  that  time,  as  supernumeraries,  to  receive 
half-pay  during  life,  and  a  certain  number  of  acres  of  land, 
in  proportion  to  their  rank.  Besides  these  pecuniary  con 
siderations,,  .we.. are  actuated  by  the  purest  principles  of 
patriotism;  having  engaged  in  the  mighty  struggle,  we 
are  ambitious  to  persevere  to  the  end.  To  be  instrumental 
in  the  achievement  of  a  glorious  independence  for  our 
country  and  posterity,  will  be  a  source  of  infinite  satisfac 
tion,  and  of  most  grateful  recollection,  during  the  remainder 
of  our  days.  |  Notwithstanding  the  unparalleled  sufferings 
and  hardships  which  have  hitherto  attended  our  military 
career,  scarcely  an  officer  retires  without  the  deepest  regret 
and  reluctance.  So  strong  is  the  attachment,  and  so  fas 
cinating  the  idea  of  participating  with  our  illustrious 
commander  in  military  glory,  that  a  separation  is  like  a 
reliriquishment  of  principle,  and  abandonment  of  the  great 
interest  of  our  native  country. 

3d. — Our  brigade  took  possession  of  our  huts  for  the 
winter,  in  the  woods  about  two  miles  in  the  rear  of  the 
works  at  West  Point.  Our  situation  is  singularly  roman 
tic,  on  a  highly-elevated  spot,  surrounded  by  mountains 
and  craggy  rocks  of  a  prodigious  size,  lofty  broken  clefts, 
and  the  banks  of  the  beautifully  meandering  Hudson, 


246  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

affording  a  view  of  the  country  for  many  miles  in  all 
directions.  We  have  now  no  longer  reason  to  complain 
of  our  accommodations;  the  huts  are  warm  and  comforta 
ble,  wood  in  abundance  at  our  doors,  and  a  tolerable  sup 
ply  of  provisions.  Our  only  complaint  is  want  of  money. 
4th. — Reports  of  a  very  serious  and  alarming  nature 
have  this  day  reached  us  from  the  Jerseys.  The  Penn 
sylvania  line  of  troops,  consisting  of  about  two  thousand 
men,  in  winter-quarters  in  the  vicinity  of  Morristown, 
have  come  to  the  desperate  resolution  of  revolting  from 
their  officers.  Though  the  Pennsylvania  troops  have  been 
subjected  to  all  the  discouragements  and  difficulties  felt 
by  the  rest  of  the  army,  some  particular  circumstances 
peculiar  to  themselves  have  contributed  to  produce  the 
revolt.  When  the  soldiers  first  enlisted,  the  recruiting 
officers  were  provided  with  enlisting-rolls  for  the  term  of 
three  years,  or  during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  and  as 
the  officers  indulged  the  opinion  that  the  war  would  not 
continue  more  than  three  years,  they  were  perhaps  indif 
ferent  in  which  column  the  soldier's  name  was  inserted, 
leaving  it  liable  to  an  ambiguity  of  construction.  It  is 
clear,  however,  that  a  part  enlisted  for  three  years,  and 
others  for  the  more  indefinite  term  "during  the  war." 
The  soldiers  now  contend  that  they  enlisted  for  three 
years  at  furthest,  and  were  to  have  been  discharged  sooner, 
in  case  the  war  terminated  before  the  expiration  of  this 
term.  The  war  being  protracted  beyond  the  time  ex 
pected,  and  the  officers,  knowing  the  value  of  soldiers  who 
have  been  trained  by  three  years'  service,  are  accused  of 
putting  a  different  construction  on  the  original  agreement, 
and  claiming  their  services  during  the  war.  The  soldiers, 
even  those  who  actually  enlisted  for  the  war,  having  re 
ceived  very  small  bounties,  complain  of  imposition  and 
deception,  and  their  case  is  extremely  aggravated  by  the 
fact,  that  three  half-joes  have  now  been  offered  as  a  bounty 
to  others  who  will  enlist  for  the  remainder  of  the  war, 
when  these  veteran  soldiers  have  served  three  years  for  a 
mere  shadow  of  compensation !  It  was  scarcely  necessary 
to  add  to  their  trying  circumstances  a  total  want  of  pay 
for  twelve  months,  and  a  state  of  nakedness  and  famine,  to 
excite  in  a  soldier  the  spirit  of  insurrection.  The  officers 
themselves,  also  feeling  aggrieved,  and  in  a  destitute  con- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  247 

dition,  relaxed  in  their  system  of  camp-discipline,  and  the 
soldiers  occasionally  overheard  their  murmurs  and  com 
plaints.  Having  appointed  a  sergeant-major  for  their 
commander,  styling  him  major-general,  and  having  con 
certed  their  arrangements,  on  the  first  day  of  the  new  year 
they  put  their  mutinous  scheme  into  execution.  On  a 
preconcerted  signal,  the  whole  line,  except  a  part  of  three 
regiments,  paraded  under  arms  without  their  officers, 
marched  to  the  magazines,  and  supplied  themselves  with 
provisions  and  ammunition,  and,'  seizing  six  field-pieces, 
took  horses  from  General  Wayne's  stable  to  transport 
them.  The  officers  of  the  line  collected  those  who  had 
not  yet  joined  the  insurgents,  and  endeavored  to  restore 
order;  but  the  revolters  fired,  and  killed  a  Captain  Billing, 
and  wounded  several  other  officers,  and  a  few  men  were 
killed  on  each  side.  The  mutineers  commanded  the  party 
who  opposed  them  to  come  over  to  them  instantly,  or 
they  should  be  bayoneted,  and  the  order  was  obeyed. 
General  Wayne,  who  commanded  the  Pennsylvania  troops, 
endeavored  to  interpose  his  influence  and  authority,  urging 
them  to  return  to  their  duty  till  their  grievances  could  be 
inquired  into  and  redressed.  But  all  was  to  no  purpose, 
and  on  cocking  his  pistol,  they  instantly  presented  their 
bayonets  to  his  breast,  saying,  "We  respect  and  love  you; 
often  have  you  led  us  into  the  field  of  battle,  but  we  are 
no  longer  under  your  command;  we  warn  you  to  be  on 
your  guard ;  if  you  fire  your  pistols,  or  attempt  to  enforce 
your  commands,  we  shall  put  you  instantly  to  death." 
General  Wayne  next  expostulated  with  them,  expressing 
his  apprehension  that  they  .were  about  to  sacrifice  the 
glorious  cause  of  their  country,  and  that  the  enemy  would 
avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  advance  and  im 
prove  so  favorable  an  occasion.  They  assured  him  that 
they  still  retained  an  attachment  and  respect  for  the  cause 
^which  they  had  embraced,  and  that,  so  far  from  a  disposi 
tion  to  abandon  it,  if  the  enemy  should  dare  to  come  out 
of  New  York,  they  would,  under  his  and  his  officers'  orders, 
face  them  in  the  field,  and  oppose  them  to  the  utmost  in 
their  power.  They  complained  that  they  had  been  im 
posed  on  and  deceived  respecting  the  term  of  their  enlist 
ment;  that  they  had  received  no>  wages  for  more  than  a 
year;  and  that  they  were  destitute  of  clothing,  and  had 


248  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1781, 

often  been  deprived  of  their  rations.  These  were  their 
grievances,  and  they  were  determined  to  march  to  Phila 
delphia,  and  demand  of  Congress  that  justice  which  had 
so  long  been  denied  them.  They  commenced  their  march 
in  regular  military  order,  and  when  encamped  at  night, 
they  posted  out  piquets,  guards,  and  sentinels.  General 
Wayne,  to  prevent  their  depredations  on  private  property, 
supplied  them  with  provisions,  and  he,  with  Colonels 
Stewart  and  Butler,  officers  whom  the  soldiers  respected 
and  loved,  followed  and  mixed  with  them,  to  watch  their 
motions  and  views,  and  they  received  from  them  respectful 
and  civil  treatment.  On  the  third  day,  the  insurgent 
troops  reached  Princeton,  and,  by  request  of  General 
Wayne,  they  deputed  a  committee  of  sergeants,  who  stated 
to  him  formally  in  writing  their  claims,  as  follows:  1st, 
A  discharge  for  all  those,  without  exception,  who  had 
served  three  years  under  their  original  engagements,  and 
had  not  received  the  increased  bounty  and  reenlisted  for 
the  war.  2d,  An  immediate  payment  of  all  their  arrears 
of  pay  and  clothing,  both  to  those  who  should  be  dis 
charged  and  those  who  should  be  retained.  3d,  The 
residue  of  their  bounty,  to  put  them  on  an  equal  footing 
with  those  recently  enlisted,  and  future  substantial  pay  to 
those  who  should  remain  in  the  service. — To  these*  de 
mands,  in  their  full  extent,  General  Wayne  could  not  feel 
himself  authorized  to  answer  in  the  affirmative,  and  a 
further  negotiation  was  referred  to  the  civil  authority  of 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  General  Washington,  whose 
head-quarters  are  at  New  Windsor,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Hudson,  received  the  intelligence  on  the  3d  instant, 
and  summoned  a  council  of  war,  consisting  of  the  general 
and  field  officers,  to  devise  the  most  proper  measures  to  be 
pursued  on  this  alarming  occasion.  Great  apprehension 
was  entertained  that  other  troops,  who  have  equal  cause 
of  discontent,  would  be  excited  to  adopt  a  similar  course. 
It  is  ordered  that  five  battalions  be  formed  by  detachments 
from  the  several  lines,  to  be  held  in  perfect  readiness  to 
march  on  the  shortest  notice,  with  four  days'  provision 
cooked ;  and  measures,  it  is  understood,  are  taken  to 
bring  the  militia  into  immediate  service,  if  required.  In 
telligence  of  the  revolt  having  reached  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
he  cherished  the  hope  that,  by  encouraging  a  rebellion, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  .  249 

and  turning  the  swords  of  our  own  soldiers  against  their 
country  and  brethren,  he  should  have  it  in  his  power  to 
effect  an  object,  which  by  his  own  arms  he  could  not  ac 
complish.  He  immediately  despatched  two  emissaries — 
a  British  sergeant,  and  one  Ogden,  of  New  Jersey — to  the 
dissatisfied  troops,  with  written  instructions  that,  by  lay 
ing  down  their  arms  and  marching  to  New  York,  they 
should  receive  their  arrearages  and  depreciation  in  hard 
cash,  and  should  be  well  clothed,  have  a  free  pardon  for 
all  past  offences,  and  be  taken  under  the  protection  of  the 
British  government,  and  no  military  service  should  be 
required  of  them,  unless  voluntarily  offered.  They  were 
requested  to  send  persons  to  meet  agents,  who  would  be 
appointed  by  Sir  Henry,  to  adjust  the  terms  of  a  treaty, 
and  the  British  general  himself  passed  over  to  Staten  Isl 
and,  having  a  large  body  of  troops  in  readiness  to  act  as 
circumstances  might  require.  The  proposals  from  the 
enemy  were  rejected  with  disdain,  and  the  mutineers  de 
livered  the  papers  to  General  Wayne,  but  refused  to  give 
up  the  emissaries,  preferring  to  keep  them  in  durance  till 
their  difficulties  could  be  discussed  and  settled.  A  com 
mittee  of  Congress  was  appointed,  who  conferred  with  the 
executive  council  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  by 
the  latter  authority  an  accommodation  of  the  affairs  with 
the  revolters  has  been  effected,  by  giving  an  interpretation 
favorable  to  the  soldiers  of  the  enlistments  which  were 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  declaring  them  to  expire 
at  the  end  of  three  years.  The  insurgents  now  surrendered 
the  two  emissaries  into  the  hands  of  General  Wayne,  on 
the  stipulated  condition  that  they  should  not  be  executed 
till  their  affairs  should  be  compromised;  or,  in  case  of 
failure,  the  prisoners  should  be  redelivered  when  demanded. 
They  were  eventually,  however,  tried  as  spies,  convicted, 
and  immediately  executed.  A  board  of  commissioners 
was  now  appointed,  of  whom  three  were  deputed  from  the 
revolters,  authorized  to  determine  what  description  of 
soldiers  should  be  discharged.  The  result  is,  that  the 
soldiers  have  accomplished  their  views,  the  committee, 
from  prudential  motives,  without  waiting  for  the  enlisting 
papers,  complied  with  their  demands,  and  discharged  from 
service  a  majority  of  the  line,  on  their  making  oath,  that 
they  enlisted  for  three  years  only.  The  enlisting  rolls 


250  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

having  since  been  produced,  it  is  found  that  by  far  the 
largest  number  of  those  liberated,  had  actually  enlisted  for 
the  whole  war.  Thus  has  terminated  a  most  unfortunate 
transaction,  which  might  have  been  prevented,  had  the 
just  complaints  of  the  army  received  proper  attention  in 
due  season.  General  Wayne  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  has  acquired  the  affection  of  the  soldiery  of  that  state. 
He  possesses  a  commanding  presence,  genteel  and  pleasing 
address,  a  daring  bravery,  is  excellent  in  discipline,  aspir 
ing  and  unrivalled  in  enterprise,  and  is  held  in  high  respect 
by  his  compatriots  in  arms. 

A  detachment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Hull,  has  returned  from  a  successful  expedition,  having 
attacked  by  surprise  the  royal  refugee  corps,  under  the 
command  of  the  noted -Colonel  Delancy,  posted  at  Mor- 
risania.  Colonel  Hull  has  for  several  months  past  sustained 
the  command  of  a  detachment  of  our  troops  posted  in  ad 
vance  of  our  army,  a  situation  requiring  the  most  active 
vigilance  and  precaution,  to  guard  against  surprise  and 
stratagem.  In  this  station,  as  in  many  others,  this  officer 
has  evinced  his  military  skill  and  judgment.  He  has  exe 
cuted  an  enterprise  with  such  address  and  gallantry,  as  to 
merit  for  himself  and  his  detachment  the  highest  honor. 
He  bravely  forced  a  narrow  passage  to  the  enemy,  and 
besides  a  number  being  killed,  he  took  upwards  of  fifty 
prisoners,  cut  away  the  bridge,  burned  their  huts  and  a 
considerable  quantity  of  forage,  and  brought  off  a  number 
of  horses  and  cattle.  Colonel  Hull  possesses  in  a  high 
degree  the  confidence  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  for 
his  judicious  arrangements  in  the  plan,  and  intrepidity 
and  valor  in  the  execution  of  the  enterprise,  he  received 
the  thanks  of  his  excellency,  and  afterwards  of  Congress. 
The  enemy  pursued  our  troops,  and  fell  in  with  a  covering 
party,  under  command  of  Colonel  Hazen,  and  in  a  skirmish 
which  ensued,  they  suffered  an  additional  loss  of  about 
thirty-five  men.  Of  Colonel  Hull's  detachment,  one  en 
sign  and  twenty -five  rank  and  file  were  killed  and  wounded. 
This  successful  exploit  is  calculated  to  raise  the  spirits  of 
our  troops,  and  to  divert  their  minds  from  the  unhappy 
occurrence  which  has  recently  taken  place  in  camp,  and  at 
the  same  time  it  may  convince  the  enemy  that  the  affairs 
of  our  army  are  not  altogether  desperate. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  ANTHONY  "WAYNE. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  251 

"We  are  again  afflicted  with  alarming  intelligence.  That 
part  of  the  Jersey  line  of  troops,  which  are  cantoned  at 
Pompton,  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  have  followed  the 
example  of  the  Pennsylvanians,  having  revolted,  and  aban 
doned  their  officers.  General  Washington  is  resolutely  de 
termined  that  this  instance  of  mutiny  shall  not  pass  with 
impunity.  Instead  of  temporizing,  he  has  ordered  a  de 
tachment  of  five  hundred  men,  properly  officered,  to  march 
for  the  purpose  of  reducing  them  to  a  proper  sense  of  duty. 
It  falls  to  rny  lot  to  accompany  the  detachment.  Major- 
General  Robert  Howe  commands  on  this  expedition,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sprout  is  second  in  command,  and  the 
other  field-officers  are  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mellen  and  Major 
Oliver.  We  marched  on  the  23d  as  far  as  the  forest  of 
Dean,  and  at  night  crowded  into  houses  and  barns.  A 
body  of  snow,  about  two  feet  deep,  without  any  track, 
rendered  the  march  extremely  difficult.  Having  no  horse, 
I  experienced  inexpressible  fatigue,  and  was  obliged  sev 
eral  times  to  sit  down  on  the  snow.  24th,  Marched  over 
the  mountains,  and  reached  Carle's  tavern,  in  Smith's 
Clove;  halted  for  two  hours,  then  proceeded  thirteen  miles, 
and  quartered  our  men  in  the  scattering  houses  and  barns. 
25th,  Marched  nine  miles,  and  reached  Ringwood.  Gen 
eral  Howe  and  all  the  field-officers  took  lodgings  at  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Erskine,  the  amiable  widow  of  the  late  re 
spectable  geographer  of  our  army.  We  were  entertained 
with  an  elegant  supper  and  excellent  wine.  Mrs.  Erskine 
is  a  sensible  and  accomplished  woman,  lives  in  a  style  of 
affluence  and  fashion;  every  thing  indicates  wealth,  taste 
and  splendor;  and  she  takes  pleasure  in  entertaining  the 
friends  of  her  late  husband  with  generous  hospitality. 

Marched  on  the  27th,  at  one  o'clock  A.  M.  eight  miles, 
which  brought  us  in  view  of  the  huts  of  the  insurgent  sol 
diers  by  dawn  of  day.  Here  we  halted  for  an  hour,  to 
make  the  necessary  preparations.  Some  of  our  officers 
suffered  much  anxiety,  lest  the  soldiers  would  not  prove 
faithful  on  this  trying  occasion.  Orders  were  given  to 
load  their  arms :  it  was  obeyed  with  alacrity,  and  indica 
tions  were  given  that  they  were  to  be  relied  on.  Being 
paraded  in  a  line,  General  Howe  harangued  them,  repre 
senting  the  heinousness  of  the  crime  of  mutiny,  and  the 
absolute  necessity  of  military  subordination;  adding  that 


252  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

the  mutineers  must  be  brought  to  an  unconditional  sub 
mission:  no  temporizing,  no  listening  to  terms  of  compro 
mise,  while  in  a  state  of  resistance.  Two  field-pieces  were 
now  ordered  to  be  placed  in  view  of  the  insurgents,  and 
the  troops  were  directed  to  surround  the  huts  on  all  sides. 
General  Howe  next  ordered  his  aid-de-camp  to  command 
the  mutineers  to  appear  on  parade  in  front  of  their  huts 
unarmed,  within  five  minutes;  observing  them  to  hesitate, 
a  second  messenger  was  sent,  and  they  instantly  obeyed 
the  command,  and  paraded  in  a  line  without  arms,  being 
in  number  between  two  and  three  hundred.  Finding 
themselves  closely  encircled  and  unable  to  resist,  they 
quietly  submitted  to  the  fate  which  awaited  them.  Gen 
eral  Howe  ordered  that  three  of  the  ringleaders  should  be 
selected  as  victims  for  condign  punishment.  These  un 
fortunate  culprits  were  tried  on  the  spot.  Colonel  Sprout 
being  president  of  the  court-martial,  standing  on  the  snow, 
and  they  were  sentenced  to  be  immediately  shot.  Twelve 
of  the  most  guilty  mutineers  were  next  selected  to  be 
their  executioners.  This  was  a  most  painful  task;  being 
themselves  guilty,  they  were  greatly  distressed  with  the 
duty  imposed  on  them,  and  when  ordered  to  load,  some 
of  them  shed  tears.  The  wretched  victims,  overwhelmed 
by  the  terrors  of  death,  had  neither  time  nor  power  to 
implore  the  mercy  and  forgiveness  of  their  God,  and  such 
was  their  agonizing  condition,  that  no  heart  could  refrain 
from  emotions  of  sympathy  and  compassion.  The  first 
that  suffered  was  a  sergeant,  and  an  old  offender;  he  was 
led  a  few  yards'  distance,  and  placed  on  his  knees;  six  of 
the  executioners,  at  the  signal  given  by  an  officer,  fired, 
three  aiming  at  the  head  and  three  at  the  breast,  the  other 
six  reserving  their  fire  in  order  to  despatch  the  victim, 
should  the  first  fire  fail;  it  so  happened  in  this  instance; 
the  remaining  six  then  fired,  and  life  was  instantly  extin 
guished.  The  second  criminal  was,  by  the  first  fire,  sent 
into  eternity  in  an  instant.  The  third  being  less  criminal, 
by  the  recommendation  of  his  officers,  to  his  unspeakable 
joy,  received  a  pardon.  This  tragical  scene  produced  a 
dreadful  shock,  and  a  salutary  effect  on  the  minds  of  the 
guilty  soldiers.  Never  were  men  more  completely  hum 
bled  and  penitent;  tears  of  sorrow  and  of  joy  rushed  from 
their  eyes,  and  each  one  appeared  to  congratulate  himself 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1781.  253 

that  his  forfeited  life  had  been  spared.  The  executions 
being  finished,  General  Howe  ordered  the  former  officers 
to  take  their  stations,  and  resume  their  respective  com 
mands;  he  then,  in  a  very  pathetic  and  affecting  manner, 
addressed  the  whole  line  'by  platoons,  endeavoring  to  im 
press  their  minds  with  a  sense  of  the  enormity  of  their 
crime,  and  the  dreadful  consequences  that  might  have 
resulted.  He  then  commanded  them  to  ask  pardon  of 
their  officers,  and  promise  to  devote  themselves  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  as  soldiers  in  future.  It 
is  most  painful  to  reflect  that  circumstances  should  impe 
riously  demand  the  infliction  of  capital  punishment  on 
soldiers  who  have  more  than  a  shadow  of  plea  to  extenuate 
their  crime.  These  unfortunate  men  have  long  suffered 
many  serious  grievances,  which  they  have  sustained  with 
commendable  patience ;  but  have  at  length  lost  their  con 
fidence  in  public  justice.  The  success  of  the  Pennsylvania 
insurgents  undoubtedly  encouraged  them  to  hope  for  ex 
emption  from  punishment.  But  the  very  existence  of  an 
army  depends  on  proper  discipline  and  subordination. 
The  arm  of  authority  must  be  exerted,  and  public  exam 
ples  be  exhibited,  to  deter  from  the  commission  of  crimes. 
The  spirit  of  revolt  must  be  effectually  repressed,  or  a  total 
annihilation  of  the  army  is  inevitable.  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
on  this  occasion  had  his  hopes  again  excited;  ever  ready 
to  profit  by  treachery  or  revolt,  he  despatched  an  emissary 
to  encourage  the  insurrection,  and  to  make  the  most 
tempting  offers  to  induce  the  mutineers  to  desert,  and  join 
the  British  standard;  but  the  messenger  himself  frustrated 
his  hopes  by  delivering  the  papers  to  our  own  officers. 

Having  completed  the  object  of  our  expedition,  we  re 
turned  to  our  cantonments  on  the  31st  instant. 

February. — Major-General  Greene  has  transmitted  to 
Congress  an  account  of  a  brilliant  action  of  General  Sump- 
ter,  of  the  southern  army,  a  few  weeks  since.  General 
Sumpter  engaged  with  a  body  of  three  hundred  cavalry, 
of  Tarleton's  legion,  and  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
British  infantry.  The  conflict  was  warm  and  close,  in 
which  the  enemy  were  repulsed.  They  rallied,  and  on 
the  second  charge  were  repulsed  again.  They  made  a 
third  effort,  but  a  fire  from  an  eminence,  occupied  by  the 
continentals,  gave  them  an  effectual  check;  they  quitted 


254  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

the  field  and  retired,  leaving  ninety  dead  and  one  hundred 
wounded.  Only  three  were  killed  and  four  wounded  on 
the  part  of  the  Americans;  among  the  latter  is  General 
Sumpter.  A  party  of  tories  from  the  outposts  of  the 
British,  advanced  to  intercept  the  wagons,  and  avail  them 
selves  of  the  supplies.  General  Smallwood  despatched 
Brigadier-General  Morgan  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wash 
ington  to  attack  them.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington, 
being  destitute  of  artillery,  made  use  of  the  following  strat 
agem:  He  mounted  on  a  carriage  a  pine  log,  cut  into  the 
form  of  a  cannon,  and  holding  out  the  appearance  of  an 
attack  with  field-pieces,  gained  his  point  by  sending  a  flag, 
and  demanding  the  immediate  surrender  of  Colonel  Hugely 
and  his  party,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  men, 
who,  on  the  approach  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington, 
had  retired  to  a  log  barn  on  Rugely'fl  plantation.  They 
surrendered  without  firing  a  gun. 

10th. — Accounts  have  been  received  that  an  action  has 
been  fought  at  a  place  called  the  Cowpens,  in  Carolina, 
between  a  body  of  the  enemy,  under  the  celebrated  Colo 
nel  Tarleton,  with  one  thousand  one  hundred  men,  and  a 
party  of  about  eight  hundred  Americans,  under  the  com 
mand  of  the  equally  celebrated  General  Morgan;  the 
enemy  were  totally  routed,  and  pursued  upwards  of  twenty 
miles.  Of  Tarleton's  party,  ten  officers  and  one  hundred 
rank  and  file  were  killed,  and  two  hundred  wounded, 
twenty-nine  officers  and  five  hundred  rank  and  file  were 
taken  prisoners,  with  two  field-pieces,  two  standards,  eight 
hundred  muskets,  thirty-five  wagons,  seventy  negroes,  one 
hundred  dragoon  horses,  one  travelling  forge,  and  all  their 
music.  The  loss  on  Morgan's  side  was  not  more  than 
twelve  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  Morgan  and  his  party 
have  acquired  immortal  honor,  and  in  this  action  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Washington  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  How 
ard  were  most  highly  distinguished  for  their  brave  and 
gallant  conduct. 

\4dh. — General  Warner  and  Colonel  Ashley,  of  Massa 
chusetts,  have  arrived  at  West  Point,  to  distribute  to  the 
soldiers  of  the  Massachusetts  line,  engaged  for  a  small 
bounty  to  serve  during  the  war,  twenty-four  dollars  in 
specie  each,  as  a  gratuity  from  the  state.  This  very  gener 
ous  act  serves  to  dissipate  the  gloom  on  the  countenances 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  nsi.  255 

of  our  brave  soldiers;  it  enlivens  their  dejected  spirits, 
and  convinces  them  that  they  are  yet  the  objects  of  a 
friendly  recollection. 

The  advance-guard  of  our  army,  consisting  of  about 
two  hundred  men,  is  posted  at  Crompond,  about  twenty 
miles  below  West  Point,  and  is  relieved  every  two  or  three 
weeks.  A  surgeon  constantly  attends,  and  I  am  now 
ordered  to  repair  to  that  post  to  relieve  Dr.  Thomas. 

March. — I  have  taken  my  quarters  at  Crornpond,  in  a 
house  with  Major  Trescott,  who  commands  at  this  post. 
This  vicinity  is  constantly  harassed  by  small  parties  of 
volunteers  on  our  side,  and  parties  of  royalists  and  tories 
on  the  other,  who  are  making  every  effort  to  effect  mutual 
destruction;  seeking  every  opportunity  to  beat  up  each 
others'  quarters,  and  to  kill  or  capture  all  who  are  found 
in  arms.  This  is  to  be  considered  as  a  very  hazardous 
situation ;  it  requires  the  utmost  vigilance  to  guard  against 
a  surprise.  Major  Trescott  is  an  excellent  disciplinarian, 
an  active,  vigilant  officer,  and  well  acquainted  with  his 
duty.  A  party  of  volunteers  collected  here  on  horseback, 
for  a  secret  expedition,  and  by  their  earnest  request  Major 
Trescott  marched  in  the  night  with  a  party  to  cover  their 
retreat,  and  to  take  any  advantage  which  might  oiler. 
The  party  returned  the  next  day  with  six  tory  prisoners, 
three  of  whom  were  wounded  by  the  broad-sword.  One 
of  our  volunteers,  named  Hunt,  received  a  dangerous 
wound  through  his  shoulder  and  lungs,  the  air  escaped 
from  the  wound  at  every  breath.  Dr.  Eustis  came  to  the 
lines,  and  dilated  the  wound  in  the  breast,  and  as  the 
patient  is  athletic  and  has  not  sustained  a  very  copious  loss 
of  blood,  he  recommended  repeated  and  liberal  blood  let 
ting,  observing  that,  in  order  to  cure  a  wound  through  the 
lungs,  yoa  must  bleed  your  patient  to  death.  He  event 
ually  recovered^  which  is  to  be  ascribed  principally  to  the 
free  use  of  the  lancet  and  such  abstemious  living  as  to 
reduce  him  to  the  greatest  extremity.  A  considerable 
number  of  v/ounded  prisoners  receive  my  daily  attention. 

A  gentleman  volunteer,  by  name  Eequaw,  received  a 
dangerous  wound,  and  was  carried  into  the  British  lines; 
I  was  requested  by  his  brother  to  visit  him,  under  the 
Ea*ic',joti  of  a  flag  of  truce,  in  company  with  Dr.  White, 
who  resides  in  this  vicinity.  This  invitation  I  cheerfully 


256  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

accepted,  and  Mr.  Requaw  having  obtained  a  flag  from 
the  proper  authority,  and  procured  horses,  we  set  off  in 
the  morning,  arrived  at  West  Chester  before  evening,  and 
dressed  the  wounded  man.  We  passed  the  night  at  Mrs. 
Barstow's,  mother-in-law  of  Dr.  W.  She  has  remained 
at  her  farm  between  the  lines  during  the  war,  and  being 
friendly  to  our  interest,  has  received  much  abusive  treat 
ment  from  the  royalists.  We  are  treated  in  the  most 
friendly  manner,  and  her  daughter,  a  sensible,  well-edu 
cated  girl,  entertained  us  in  conversation  till  one  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  relating  numerous  occurrences  and  inci 
dents  of  an  interesting  nature  respecting  the  royal  party. 
The  next  day  we  visited  our  patient  again,  paid  the  neces 
sary  attention,  and  repaired  to  a  tavern,  where  I  was  gra 
tified  with  an  interview  with  the  much-famed  Colonel 
Delancy,  who  commands  the  refugee  corps.  He  conducted 
with  much  civility,  and  having  a  public  dinner  prepared 
at  the  tavern,  he  invited  us  to  dine  with  him  and  his 
officers.  After  dinner,  Colonel  Delancy  furnished  us  with 
a  permit  to  return  with  our  flag;  we  rode  ten  miles,  and 
took  lodgings  in  a  private  house.  Here  we  were  informed 
that  six  of  our  men,  having  taken  from  the  refugees  thirty 
head  of  cattle,  were  overtaken  by  forty  of  Delancy's  corps, 
and  were  all  killed  but  one,  and  the  cattle  retaken.  In 
the  morning,  breakfasted  with  a  friendly  Quaker  family, 
in  whose  house  was  one  of  our  men,  who  had  been  wound 
ed  when  four  others  were  killed;  we  dressed  his  wounds, 
which  were  numerous  and  dangerous.  In  another  house, 
we  saw  four  dead  bodies,  mangled  in  a  most  inhuman 
manner  by  the  refugees,  and  among  them  one  groaning 
under  five  wounds  on  his  head,  two  of  them  quite  through 
his  skull-bone  with  a  broad  sword.  This  man  was  capable 
of  giving  us  an  account  of  the  murderer  of  his  four  com 
panions.  They  surrendered,  and  begged  for  life ;  but  their 
entreaties  were  disregarded,  and  the  swords  of  their  cruel 
foes  were  plunged  into  their  bodies  so  long  as  signs  of  life 
remained.  We  found  many  friends  to  our  cause,  who 
reside  on  their  farms  between  the  lines  of  the  two  armies, 
whose  situation  is  truly  deplorable,  being  continually  ex 
posed  to  the  ravages  of  the  tories,  horse-thieves,  and  Cow 
boys,  who  rob  and  plunder  them  without  mercy,  and  the 
personal  abuse  and  punishments  which  they  inflict,  is 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  257 

almost  incredible — the  particulars  of  which,  have  been 
already  noticed,  page  238. 

On  the  4th  of  this  month,  the  grand  confederation  and 
perpetual  union  of  the  Thirteen  American  States,  from 
New  Hampshire  to  Georgia,  inclusive,  was  signed  and 
ratified  by  all  the  delegates  in  Congress.  This  instrument 
has  long  been  a  subject  of  discussion  and  consideration 
by  the  several  states,  and  by  some,  considerable  opposi 
tion  has  been  maintained  against  it,  which  has  impeded 
its  ratification.  It  consists  of  thirteen  articles,  entitled 
"  Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  Union  between  the 
Thirteen  American  States"  By  this  instrument,  each  state 
retains  its  sovereignty,  freedom  and  independence,  and  the 
states  severally  enter  into  a  firm  league  of  friendship  with 
each  other  for  their  common  defence,  the  security  of  their 
liberties,  and  their  mutual  and  general  welfare,  &c.,  &c. 

April. — I  received  orders  to  return  to  the  highlands 
near  West  Point,  to  inoculate  the  troops  with  the  small 
pox.  Dined  with  Colonel  Scammel,  on  my  route,  with  a 
number  of  gentlemen. 

I2t/i. — Crossed  the  Hudson,  to  the  hospital  at  Eobinson's 
house,  and  passed  the  night  with  Dr.  Eustis;  the  next 
day  accompanied  hfrn  to  Peekskill  to  visit  the  family  of 
Colonel  Laurence,  who  are  under  inoculation  with  the 
small-pox,  thence  to  the  quarters  of  Colonel  Scammel  and 
Dr.  Findlay,  returned  to  the  hospital  at  night,  and  the 
next  day  crossed  with  Dr.  Eustis  to  West  Point,  and  dined 
at  General  Heath's  quarters. 

20th. — A  soldier  was  hanged  to-day  for  desertion,  and 
another  was  pardoned  under  the  gallows  with  a  rope 
round  his  neck. 

All  the  soldiers,  with  the  women  and  children,  who 
have  not  had  the  small-pox,  are  now  under  inoculation. 
Of  our  regiment,  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  were  sub 
jects  of  the  disease.  The  old  practice  of  previous  prepa 
ration  by  a  course  of  mercury  and  low  diet,  has  not  been 
adopted  on  this  occasion ;  a  single  dose  of  jalap  and  calo 
mel,  or  of  the  extract  of  butternut,  juglans  cinerea,  is  in 
general  administered  previous  to  the  appearance  of  the 
symptoms.  As  to  diet,  we  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  be 
destitute  of  the  necessary  comfortable  articles  of  food,  and 
they  subsist  principally  on  their  common  rations  of  beef, 


258  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

bread  and  salt  pork.  A  small  quantity  of  rice,  sugar,  or 
molasses,  and  tea  are  procured  for  those  who  are  danger 
ously  sick.  Some  instances  have  occurred  of  putrid  fever 
supervening,  either  at  the  first  onset  or  at  the  approach 
of  the  secondary  stage,  and  a  few  cases  have  terminated 
fatally.  Many  of  our  patients  were  improper  subjects  for 
the  disease,  but  we  were  under  the  necesdity  of  inoculating 
all,  without  exception,  whatever  might  be  their  condition 
as  to  health.  Of  five  hundred  who  have  been  inoculated, 
four  only  have  died,  but  in  other  instances  the  proportion 
of  deaths  is  much  more  considerable.  The  extract  of 
butternut  is  made  by  boiling  down  the  inner  bark  of  the 
tree ;  the  discovery  of  this  article  IA  highly  important,  and 
it  may  be  considered  as  a  valuable  acquisition  to  our  ma- 
teria  medica.  The  country  people  have  for  some  time  been 
in  the  practice  of  using  it,  and  Dr.  Eush,  who  was  for  a 
short  period  at  the  head  of  our  hospital  department,  has 
recommended  the  employment  of  it  among  our  patients, 
as  a  mild  yet  sufficiently  active  cathartic,  and  a  valuable 
arid  economical  substitute  for  jalap.  It  operates  without 
creating  heat  or  irritation,  and  is  found  to  be  efficacious 
in  cases  of  dysentery  and  bilious  complaints.  As  the  but 
ternut-tree  abounds  in  our  country,  we  may  obtain  at  a 
very  little  expense  a  valuable  domestic  article  of  medicine. 
Though  there  is  much  reason  to  suppose  that  our  own  soil 
is  prolific  in  remedies  adapted  to  the  diseases  of  our 
country,  the  butternut  is  the  only  cathartic  deserving  of 
confidence  which  we  have  yet  discovered. 

30th.— Dined  at  West  Point  with  Dr.  Thomas,  and 
accompanied  him  to  General  Patterson's  quarters:  the 
general  humorously  apologized,  that  he  could  afford  us 
nothing  better  than  a  miserable  glass  of  whiskey  grog. 
Passed  the  river  to  the  hospital.  Dr.  Eustis  being  indis 
posed,  he  requested  me  to  bleed  him,  and  I  passed  the 
night  at  the  Point. 

Intelligence  has  reached  us  that  Brigadier-General  Peleg 
Wadsworth,  who  commanded  a  detachment  of  militia  at 
a  place  called  Camden,  in  the  province  of  Maine,  has  been 
surprised  and  taken  prisoner,  in  the  night,  by  a  party  of 
British  soldiers,  sent  for  this  purpose  from  their  post  at 
Penobscot.  It  is  added,  that  the  general  defended  him 
self  in  the  most  daring  and  spirited  manner  till  he  received 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1781.  259 

a  wound,  and  was  entirely  overpowered.     See  particulars 
of  this  extraordinary  affair  in  the  Appendix. 

I  accompanied  Dr.  John  Hart  to  New  Windsor,  to  pay 
our  respects  to  Dr.  John  Cochran,  who  is  lately  promoted 
to  the  office  of  director-general  of  the  hospitals  of  the 
United  States,  as  successor  to  Dr.  Shippen,  resigned.  We 
dined  with  Dr.  Cochran,  in  company  with  Drs.  Eustis  and 
S.  Adams.  Dr.  Cochran,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  served  in  the  office  of  surgeon's-mate  in  the  hospital 
department  during  the  war  between  the  English  and 
French,  which  commenced  in  America  in  1775,  and  left 
the  service  with  the  reputation  of  an  able  and  experienced 
practitioner.  From  that  time  to  this,  he  has  devoted  him 
self  to  his  professional  pursuits  in  New  Jersey,  and  has 
been  eminently  distinguished  as  a  practitioner  in  medicine 
and  surgery.  Finding  his  native  country  involved  in  a 
war  with  Great  Britain,  his  zeal  and  attachment  to  her 
interest  impelled  him  to  the  theatre  of  action,  and  he  prof 
fered  his  services  as  a  volunteer  in  the  hospital  department. 
General  Washington,  justly  appreciating  his  merit  and 
character,  recommended  him  to  Congress,  by  whom  he 
was  in  April,  1777,  appointed  physician  arid  surgeon-gen 
eral  in  the  middle  department  He  is  now  promoted  to  the 
office  of  director-general  of  the  hospitals  of  the  United 
States.*  Dr  James  Crais,  who  now  succeeds  Dr.  Cochran, 


'01 


as  surgeon  and  physician-general,  was  also  employed  in 
the  French  war  of- 1759,  with  General  Washington,  who 

*  Not  long  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Dr.  Cochran  removed  with  his 
family  to  New  York,  where  he  attended  to  the  duties  of  his  profession, 
till  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  when  his  friend,  President 
Washington,  retaining,  to  use  his  own  words,  "a  cheerful  recollection  of 
his  past  services,"  nominated  him  to  the  office  of  commissioner  of  loans 
for  the  state  of  New  York.  This  office  he  held  till  a  paralytic  stroke 
disabled  him  in  some  measure  from  the  discharge  of  its  duties,  on. 
which  he  gave  in  his  resignation,  and  retired  to  Palatine,  in  the  county 
of  Montgomery,  where  he  terminated  a  long  and  useful  life,  on  the  6th 
of  April,  1807,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 

"He  united  a  vigorous,  mind  and  correct  judgment  with  information 
derived  and  improved  from  long  experience,  and  faithful  habits  of  atten 
tion  to  the  duties  of  his  profession."  He  possessed  the  pure  and  in 
flexible  principles  of  patriotism,  and  his  integrity  was  unimpeachable. 
It  is  gratifying  to  have  this  opportunity  of  expressing  a  respectful  recol 
lection  of  his  urbanity  and  civilities,  and  of  affording  this  small  tribute 
to  his  cherished  memory. 


2  GO  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

held  the  office  of  major,  and  when  a  mutual  attachment 
was  formed  between  them. 

By  intelligence  from  our  army  of  the  south,  under 
command  of  Major-General  Greene,  affairs  in  that  quarter 
are  exceedingly  unpropitious  and  discouraging.  The 
troops  are  so  destitute  of  clothing,  that  their  footsteps  are 
marked  with  blood  for  want  of  shoes;  their  food  consists, 
part  of  the  time,  of  rice,  with  frogs  from  ponds  and  ditches, 
and  sometimes  of  peaches  and  berries.  When  they  obtain 
a  small  supply  of  beef,  it  is  so  miserably  poor  as  scarcely 
to  be  eatable.  The  army  is  continually  harassed  in  march 
ing  through  the  country,  sometimes  executing  successful 
and  honorable  exploits,  and  again  compelled  to  retreat  be 
fore  a  victorious  enemy  with  hair-breadth  escapes.  Never 
perhaps  were  opposing  commanders  more  equally  matched 
than  General  Greene  and  Lord  Cornwallis,  though  the 
former  is  almost  constantly  laboring  under  the  disad 
vantage  of  inferiority  of  numbers  and  of  physical  force. 
General  Greene  communicates  to  Congress  an  account  of 
a  very  obstinate  and  bloody  battle  fought  by  the  two 
armies  at  Guilford  court-house,  North  Carolina,  a  few  weeks 
since.  Our  commander  was  compelled  to  yield  to  his 
adversary,  but  it  is  a  victory  purchased  at  a  ruinous  price. 
Seven  days  after  the  action,  General  Greene  writes  that 
Cornwallis'  troops  were  too  much  galled  to  improve  their 
success,  that  he  had  been  preparing  for  another  action, 
expecting  the  enemy  to  advance,  but  of  a  sudden  they 
took  their  departure,  and  left  behind  them  evident  marks 
of  distress.  All  the  wounded  at  Guilford  who  had  fallen 
into  their  hands,  and  seventy  of  their  own,  too  ill  to  be 
moved,  were  left  behind.  Most  of  their  officers  suffered; 
Lord  Cornwallis  had  his  horse  shot  under  him.  Colonel 
Stuart,  of  the  guards,  was  killed.  General  O'Hara  and 
Colonels  Tarleton  and  Webster  wounded.  Their  whole 
loss  is  reported  to  be  six  hundred  and  sixty-three,  exclu 
sive  of  officers.  General  Greene  returned  three  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  killed,  wounded  and  missing;  many  of 
the  latter  went  to  their  homes  after  the  action.  General 
Stevens  and  Huger  were  wounded. 

A  large  detachment  of  British  troops  and  refugees  em 
barked  at  New  York  some  time  since,  bound  on  an  expe 
dition  to  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  the  infamous 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 


261 


traitor  Arnold.  He  took  possession  of  Portsmouth,  on 
James  river,  where  they  are  employed  in  ravaging  and 
rifling  the  plantations,  and  destroying  public  and  private 
property.  Another  body  of  royalists  has  lately  been  sent 
from  New  York,  under  Major-Gen eral  Phillips,  who,  now 
having  the  chief  command  of  the  British  in  Virginia, 
united  with  Arnold  in  a  predatory  warfare.  General 
Phillips  died  soon  after,  and  Arnold  again  resumed  the 
command.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  with  a  command 
of  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  light-infantry,  de 
tached  from  our  main  army,  is  on  his  march  to  Virginia, 
where  he  is  to  join  a  body  of  continentals  and  militia  under 
Baron  Steuben  and  General  Muhlenburg,  for  the  purpose 
of  protecting  that  country  from  the  depredations  of  the 
enemy. 

The  continental  army  in  Carolina,  were  successful  after 
the  action  of  Guilford,  and  gained  the  ascendency  in  that 
quarter  over  the  British.  On  the  10th  of  May,  Lord  Raw- 
don  evacuated  Camden  with  precipitation,  leaving  behind 
three  of  his  officers  and  fifty  privates,  who  had  been  dan 
gerously  wounded,  and  were  unable  to  be  removed.  He 
burned  the  stores,  baggage,  &c.,  and  left  the  town  a  heap 
of  ruins.  The  next  day  the  strong  post  of  Orangeburg 
surrendered  tq  General  Sumpter.  One  colonel,  several 
other  officers,  and  eighty  rank  and  file  were  made  prison 
ers.  Next  followed,  on  the  12th,  Fort  Motte,  the  garrison 
consisting  of  nineteen  officers  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
men,  who  surrendered  to  General  Marion,  as  did  also  Fort 
Granby,  on  the  14th,  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee,  when  one 
lieutenant-colonel,  two  majors,  six  captains,  six  lieutenants, 
three  ensigns,  one  surgeon,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  rank  and  file,  became  his  prisoners.  Large  quantities 
of  provisions  and  some  military  stores  were  found  in  sev 
eral  of  the  forts,  and  in  the  baggage  belonging  to  the 
nineteenth  regiment  were  found  seven  hundred  guineas, 
which  it  is  said  General  Greene  distributed  among  his 
troops,  as  a  reward  for  their  bravery  and  sufferings. 

May. — The  spirit  of  desertion  appears  to  prevail  to  a 
considerable  degree  among  both  the  British  and  Hessians 
at  New  York.  Instances  have  been  frequent  for  several 
months  past  of  two  or  three  coming  out  together.  Some 
of  them  offer  to  engage  in  our  service,  but  they  are  rejected 


262  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

and  sent  into  the  country,  where  they  cannot  effect  any 
mischievous  purpose.  Deserters  are  always  to  be  sus 
pected,  as  they  are  not  unfrequently  employed  as  spies, 
who  desert  back  again  with  intelligence  for  the  enemy. 
Not  long  since,  a  Captain  Simmons,  of  Delancy's  corps, 
came  over  to  our  lines,  and  was  sent  up  to  West  Point. 
He  asserted  that,  being  disaffected  with  the  enemy  on  some 
pretences,  he  had  resigned  his  commission  and  deserted 
from  them ;  he  was  delivered  over  to  the  governor  of  the 
state.  A  few  days  since  a  groom  belonging  to  an  officer 
in  the  British  service  deserted  with  a  valuable  horse  from 
his  master,  which  he  sold  for  one  hundred  dollars  in  specie. 

A  party  of  continental  troops,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Christopher  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island,  being  stationed  on 
our  lines,  near  Croton  river,  were  surprised  by  a  party  of 
the  enemy,  about  sunrise  on  the  13th  instant.  They  first 
attacked  Colonel  Greene's  and  Major  Flagg's  quarters,  and 
killed  the  major  while  in  bed.  The  colonel  being  badly 
wounded  in  the  house,  was  carried  into  the  woods  and 
barbarously  murdered.  Two  subalterns  and  twenty-seven 
privates  were  also  killed,  and  a  lieutenant  and  surgeon, 
with  about  twenty  men,  taken  prisoners.  This  melancholy 
event  is  most  deeply  regretted;  Colonel  Greene  bravely 
distinguished  himself  in  defence  of  Fort  Mercer,  at  Red 
Bank,  in  October,  1777,  and  has  ever  been  considered  as 
a  valiant  and  vigilant  officer.  He  had  taken  post  in  a 
situation  to  guard  a  certain  fording-place  at  Croton  river, 
and  had  practised  the  greatest  vigilance  in  the  night  time, 
calling  off  his  guards  at  sunrise,  on  the  idea  that  the  enemy 
would  not  presume  to  cross  in  the  day-time;  but  the  enemy 
having  learned  his  mode  of  performing  duty,  effected  their 
purpose  by  crossing  the  ford  immediately  after  the  guard 
had  been  withdrawn,  and  the  surprise  was  so  complete 
that  no  practicable  defence  could  avail  them.  It  will  not 
be  denied  that  an  enemy  may  be  justified  in  availing  him 
self  of  every  opportunity  of  gaining  an  advantage  over  his 
antagonist,  or  that  in  some  instances  slaughter  is  unavoid 
able  ;  but  a  wanton  and  unnecessary  sacrifice  of  life  is  on 
all  occasions  to  be  deprecated  as  a  disgraceful  violation  of 
the  dictates  of  humanity. 

General  Washington  has  performed  a  journey  to  Con 
necticut,  for  the  purpose  of  an  interview  with  the  Count 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 


263 


de  Rochambeau,  chief  commander  of  the  French  troops, 
now  at  Rhode  Island.  The  object  of  this  interview  is 
supposed  to  be  the  concerting  of  a  system  of  measures  to 
be  pursued  by  the  allied  army  in  the  ensuing  campaign. 

Private  intelligence  from  a  confidential  source  we  un 
derstand  has  been  received  at  head-quarters,  that  a  plan 
has  been  concerted  in  New  York,  to  send  out  four  parties 
— one  to  assassinate  or  take  General  Washington;  another, 
Governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey;  a  third,  Governor 
Clinton,  of  the  state  of  New  York;  and  the  object  of  the 
fourth  is  unknown.  Measures  will  undoubtedly  be  adopted 
to  guard  against  and  defeat  this  singular  enterprise. 

It  has  several  times  happened  that  an  artful  and  enter 
prising  fellow,  by  the  name  of  Moody,  employed  by  the 
British  in  New  York,  has  succeeded  in  taking  our  mail 
from  the  post-rider  on  the  road,  though  he  has  had  some 
very  remarkable  escapes.  After  the  interview  of  General 
Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau,  the  British  were 
particularly  desirous  of  obtaining  intelligence  relative  to 
the  result.  Accordingly  Moody  was  again  despatched  to 
effect  the  object.  Being  perfectly  well  acquainted  with 
the  roads  and  passes,  he  waylaid  the  mail  for  some  days 
in  the  Jerseys,  till  at  length  it  was  his  good  fortune  to 
possess  himself  of  that  very  mail  which  contained  General 
Washington's  despatches  to  Congress,  communicating  the 
information  which  was  the  object  of  their  desires.  This 
valuable  prize  he  had  the  address  to  bear  off  to  New 
York  in  safety. 

June  20th. — It  is  directed  in  general  orders  that  the 
whole  army  at  this  place  march  and  encamp  at  Peekskill, 
leaving  the  invalids  and  a  small  party  to  garrison  West 
Point.  One  of  the  three  divisions  of  the  army  is  to  pass 
the  Hudson  each  day,  till  all  have  crossed. 

22c?. — Our  division  of  the  army  crossed  the  Hudson  at 
West  Point-landing  yesterday,  and  reached  Peekskill  at 
night.  We  have  left  our  cantonments  in  a  woody  mount 
ain,  affording  a  romantic  and  picturesque  scenery  of  nature 
clothed  in  her  wild  and  winter  attire,  having  scarcely  the 
appearance  of  vegetation.  A  splendid  world  is  now  open 
to  our  view,  all  nature  is  in  animation — the  fields  and 
meadows  display  the  beauties  of  spring,  a  pleasing  variety 
of  vegetables  and  flowers  perfume  the  air,  and  the  charm- 


264  MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1781. 

ing  music  of  the  feathered  tribe  delights  our  ears.  But 
there  is  a  contrast  in  music.  What  can  compare  with  that- 
martial  band,  the  drum  and  fife,  bugle-horn  and  shrill 
trumpet,  which  set  the  war-horse  in  motion,  thrill  through 
every  fibre  of  the  human  frame,  still  the  groans  of  the 
dying  soldier,  and  stimulate  the  living  to  the  noblest  deeds 
of  glory?  The  fall  roll  of  the  drum,  which  salutes  the 
commander-in-chief,  the  animating  beat,  which  calls  to 
arms  for  the  battle,  the  reveille,  which  breaks  our  slum 
bers  at  dawn  of  day,  with  "come,  strike  your  tents,  and 
march  away,"  and  the  evening  tattoo,  which  commands  to 
retirement  and  repose ;  these  form  incomparably  the  most 
enchanting  music  that  has  ever  vibrated  on  my  ear. 

23d. — The  army  is  now  concentrated  to  a  point  in  this 
place,  and  encamped  in  two  lines,  and  in  the  same  regular 
order  that  the  troops  usually  form  in  a  line  of  battle,  oc 
cupying  a  very  large  extent  of  ground,  and  covering  fields 
of  corn,  grain  and  meadows.  Our  brigade  is  stationed  on 
the  left  of  the  second  line.  The  campaign  is  now  about 
to  be  opened,  and  we  expect  in  a  few  days  that  the 
French  army  will  form  a  junction  with  us  to  cooperate 
with  our  troops. 

July  1st. — A  division  of  our  French  allies  are  on  their 
march  from  Rhode  Island,  to  unite  with  us  in  the  service 
of  the  campaign.  Great  preparations  are  continually 
making  for  some  important  operation,  and  it  is  in  general 
conjectured  that  the  object  of  the  campaign  is  to  besiege 
New  York.  We  are  ordered  to  have  four  days'  provisions 
cooked,  and  to  march  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
leaving  all  our  baggage  behind,  except  a  single  blanket  to 
each  man.  It  is  remarkable  that  we  have  so  much  as  four 
days'  provisions  on  hand. 

6th. — The  reveille  beat  at  three  o'clock  on  the  2d  instant, 
when  we  marched,  and  reached  Tarry  town  in  the  evening; 
the  weather  being  extremely  hot,  the  troops  were  much 
fatigued.  Halted  at  Tarrytown  about  two  hours,  and  then 
proceeded;  marched  all  night,  and  at  sunrise  arrived 
within  two  miles  of  the  enemy's  works  at  King's-bridge. 
Having  halted  about  two  hours,  a  firing  of  cannon  and 
musketry  was  heard  in  front,  and  we  were  informed  that 
a  party  of  our  troops  had  engaged  the  enemy,  and  we  were 
ordered  to  advance  rapidly  to  their  assistance ;  but  before 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  265 

we  could  reach  the  scene  of  action,  the  enemy  had  retired 
within  their  strong  works.  A  detachment  of  continental 
troops,  under  command  of  Major-General  Lincoln,  went 
down  the  North  river  in  boats  in  the  night,  to  attack  the 
enemy  by  surprise,  or  to  draw  them  out  to  a  distance  from 
their  works,  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  cornmander- 
in-chief  to  engage  them  in  the  field;  but  this  object  could 
not  be  accomplished,  and  a  skirmish  only  ensued,  in  which 
both  parties  suffered  some  loss,  and  General  Lincoln 
brought  off  ten  prisoners.  We  took  our  repose  for  the 
night  in  the  open  field,  and  our  tents  and  baggage  having 
arrived  the  next  day,  we  pitched  our  encampment  in  two 
lines,  on  the  most  advantageous  ground,  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  outposts  of  the  enemy.  The  French  army, 
under  General  Rocharnbeau,  have  arrived  and  encamped 
at  a  small  distance  on  the  left  of  the  Americans. 

The  French  legion  of  dragoons  and  infantry,  under 
command  of  the  Duke  o!e  Luzerne,  arrived,  and  took  their 
station  near  our  encampment,  and  appear  in  true  military 
style;  they  are  a  fine  looking  corps,  full  of  military  ardor, 
and,  in  conjunction  with  Colonel  Sheldon's  dragoons, 
much  important  service  is  expected. 

1th. — Our  army  was  drawn  up  in  a  line,  and  reviewed 
by  General  Rochambeau,  commander-in-chief  of  the  French 
army,  with  his  Excellency  General  Washington  arid  other 
general  officers. 

10^. — Another  review  took  place  in  presence  of  the 
French  ambassador,  from  Philadelphia;  after  which,  the 
French  army  passed  a  review  in  presence  of  the  general 
officers  of  both  armies. 

13th. — Notwithstanding  the  active  bustle  which  attends 
our  present  situation,  I  received  an  invitation,  with  a 
number  of  officers  of  our  regiment,  to  dine  with  a  party 
of  French  officers  in  their  camp.  We  were  politely  re 
ceived  under  an  elegant  marquee:  our  entertainment  con 
sisted  of  excellent  soup,  roast-beef,  &c.,  served  in  French 
style.  The  gentlemen  appear  desirous  of  cultivating  an 
acquaintance  with  our  officers,  but  being  ignorant  of  each 
others'  language,  we  can  enjoy  but  little  conversation. 
The  French  army  exhibit  their  martial  array  to  the  great 
est  advantage.  In  the  officers  we  recognize  the  accom 
plished  gentlemen,  free  and  affable  in  their  manners.  Their 


266  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

military  dress  and  side-arms  are  elegant;  the  troops  are 
under  the  strictest  discipline,  and  are  amply  provided  with 
arms  and  accoutrements,  which  are  kept  in  the  neatest 
order;  they  are  in  complete  uniform,  coats  of  white  broad 
cloth,  trimmed  with  green,  and  white  under-dress,  and  on 
their  heads  they  wear  a  singular  kind  of  hat  or  chapeau. 
It  is  unlike  our  cocked  hats  in  having  but  two  corners 
instead  of  three,  which  gives  them  a  very  novel  appear 
ance.  It  has  been  remarked,  to  their  honor,  that  during 
their  march  from  Newport  to  join  our  army,  their  course 
has  been  marked  with  the  most  exemplary  order  and 
regularity,  committing  no  depredations,  but  conducting 
towards  the  inhabitants  on  their  route  with  great  civility 
and  propriety.  We  now  greet  them  as  friends  and  allies, 
and  they  manifest  a  zealous  determination  to  act  in  unison 
with  us  against  the  common  enemy.  This  conduct  must 
have  a  happy  tendency  to  eradicate  from  the  minds  of  the 
Americans  their  ancient  prejudices  against  the  French 
people.  They  punctually  paid  their  expenses  in  hard 
money,  which  made  them  acceptable  guests  wherever  they 
passed  ;  and,  in  fact,  the  large  quantity  of  solid  coin  which 
they  brought  into  the  United  States,  is  to  be  considered  as 
of  infinite  importance  at  the  present  period  of  our  affairs. 

loth. — Two  of  the  British  frigates  and  several  smaller 
vessels  passed  up  the  North  river  as  far  as  Tarrytown,  in 
defiance  of  our  cannon,  which  were  continually  playing 
on  them.  Their  object  appears  to  be,  to  seize  some  of  our 
small  vessels  which  are  passing  down  the  river  with  sup 
plies  for  our  army.  One  small  sloop,  loaded  with  bread 
for  the  French  army,  has  fallen  into  their  hands. 

17th. — A  fine  corps  of  light-infantry,  selected  from  the 
several  New  England  regiments,  is  now  formed,  and  put 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Colonel  Alexander 
Scammel,  formerly  our  adjutant-general.  This  select  corps, 
consisting  of  the  most  active  and  soldierly  young  men  and 
officers,  is  intended  to  march  in  advance  of  the  main  army, 
constantly  prepared  for  active  and  hazardous  service. 
Colonel  Scammel  was  indulged  the  liberty  of  choosing 
his  own  officers,  rejecting  those  whom  he  deemed  unfit 
for  his  enterprising  purpose.  According  to  regular  detail, 
it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Dr.  C.  to  act  as  surgeon  to  this  corps ; 
but  it  was  the  doctor's  misfortune  to  have  one  blink  eye, 


JOHX   PAUL   JOXES. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  267 

and  not  being  perfectly  active,  Colonel  Scammel  objected 
to  him,  and  desired  that  he  might  be  exchanged  for  one 
more  competent  to  the  duties  of  the  service.  In  conse 
quence  of  this,  I  received  a  billet  from  Dr.  James  Craig, 
chief  physician  and  surgeon  to  the  army,  requesting  me  to 
repair  to  the  detachment  immediately,  and  take  the  place 
of  Dr.  C.  Colonel  Jackson,  unwilling  to  have  his  regiment 
left  destitute  of  a  surgeon,  strongly  protested  against  it; 
but  Colonel  Scammel  was  strenuous,  and  finally  prevailed, 
and  I  now  enjoy  the  honor  of  officiating  as  surgeon  to  a 
fine  corps  of  infantry,  commanded  by  an  officer  of  the  first 
military  reputation.  Dr.  Munson,  of  the  Connecticut  line, 
is  my  mate ;  and  the  medical  duties  of  Colonel  Jackson's 
regiment  devolve  on  Dr.  Francis  le  Baron  Goodwin,  sur 
geon's  mate,  during  my  absence. 

19^A. — The  British  frigates  that  passed  up  the  North 
river  a  few  days  since,  took  the  advantage  of  wind  and 
tide  to  return  to  New  York.  A  severe  cannonade  com 
menced  from  our  battery  at  Dobbs'  ferry,  where  the  river 
is  about  three  miles  wide,  and  they  were  compelled  to  run 
the  gauntlet.  They  returned  the  fire  as  they  passed,  but 
without  effect.  On  board  the  Savage  ship-of-war  a  box 
of  powder  took  fire,  and  such  was  their  consternation,  that 
twenty  people  jumped  into  the  river;  among  whom  was 
a  prisoner  on  board,  who  informs  us  that  he  was  the  only 
man  who  got  on  shore,  all  the  others  being  drowned.  He 
reports  also  that  the  Savage  was  several  times  hulled  by 
our  shot,  and  was  very  near  sinking.  In  the  evening  of 
the  21st,  our  army  and  the  French,  were  put  in  motion, 
marching  with  great  rapidity  through  a  thick,  unfrequented 
wood  and  swamps,  and  through  fields  of  corn  and  wheat. 
Passing  through  a  swamp  in  the  night,  our  rear-guard, 
with  myself  and  Dr.  Munson,  lost  sight  of  the  main  body 
of  the  army  for  more  than  an  hour,  and  I  got  a  severe  fall 
from  my  horse.  In  the  morning,  we  arrived  near  the 
enemy's  post  at  Morrissania,  but  they  had  taken  the  alarm, 
and  escaped  to  New  York.  Having  continued  there  during 
the  day,  we  retired  in  the  evening  about  five  or  six  miles, 
and  lay  on  the  hills  near  King's-bridge,  where  we  remained 
unmolested  till  the  night  of  the  23d,  when  we  returned  to 
our  encampment.  While  near  the  enemy's  lines,  the  army 
was  drawn  up  in  a  line  of  battle,  and  General  Washington, 
18 


268  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

General  Eochambeau,  and  all  the  general  officers  and  en 
gineers,  were  employed  in  reconnoitering  the  different 
positions  of  the  enemy's  works  in  all  directions.  The 
position  which  we  now  occupy  is  the  neutral  ground  be 
tween  the  lines,  a  beautiful  fertile  country,  and  the  roads 
and  cornmo'ns  as  well  as  the  inclosures  are  loaded  with 
grass,  while  the  deserted  houses  in  ruins,  and  the  prostrate 
fences,  exhibit  the  melancholy  devastation  of  war. 

31st. — Our  detachment,  under  Colonel  Scammel,  march 
ed  last  evening  down  to  Phillips'  house,  near  the  enemy's 
works,  on  a  foraging  expedition.  ^  After  our  wagons  were 
loaded,  we  retired  into  the  woods,  and  lay  in  ambush,  with 
the  hope  that  the  enemy  would  give  us  an  opportunity 
to  engage  them,  but  they  did  not  make  their  appearance. 

August  13th. — A  most  tremendous  storm  of  rain  came 
on  last  night,  and  continued  almost  incessantly;  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  sudden  gust  rent  our  tents  asun 
der,  and  whirled  them  about  our  ears,  leaving  us  destitute 
of  shelter,  and  most  thoroughly  drenched. 

15th. — A  French  soldier,  who  deserted,  and  was  taken 
on  his  way  to  the  enemy,  was  shot  in  the  French  camp. 

General  orders  are  now  issued  for  the  army  to  prepare 
for  a  movement  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  real  object  of 
the  allied  armies  the  present  campaign  has  become  a  sub 
ject  of  much  speculation.  Ostensibly  an  investment  of 
the  city  of  New  York  is  in  contemplation — preparations 
in  all  quarters  for  some  months  past  indicate  this  to  be  the 
object  of  our  combined  operations.  The  capture  of  this 
place  would  be  a  decisive  stroke,  and  from  the  moment 
such  event  takes  place,  the  English  must  renounce  all 
hopes  of  subjugating  the  United  States.  But  New  York 
is  well  fortified  both  by  land  and  water,  and  garrisoned 
by  the  best  troops  of  Great  Britain.  The  success  of  a 
siege  must  depend  entirely  on  the  arrival  and  cooperation 
of  a  superior  French  fleet.  The  enemy  have  a  garrison 
on  Staten  Island,  which  is  separated  from  Long  Island 
only  by  a  strait  of  two  miles  wide.  The  capture  of  this 
garrison  would  be  a  brilliant  affair,  and  would  essentially 
facilitate  our  operations  against  New  York.  General 
Washington  and  Count  Eochambeau  have  crossed  the 
North  river,  arid  it  is  supposed  for  the  purpose  of  recon 
noitering  the  enemy's  posts  from  the  Jersey  shore.  A 


MILITAEY  JOUENAL,  1781.  269 

field  for  an  extensive  encampment  has  been  marked  out 
on  the  Jersey  side,  and  a  number  of  ovens  have  been 
erected  and  fuel  provided  for  the  purpose  of  baking  bread 
for  the  army.  From  these  combined  circumstances  we 
are  led  to  conclude  that  a  part  of  our  besieging  force  is 
to  occupy  that  ground.  But  General  Washington  pos 
sesses  a  capacious  mind,  full  of  resources,  and  he  resolves 
and  matures  his  great  plans  and  designs  under  an  impen 
etrable  veil  of  secrecy,  and  while  we  repose  the  fullest 
confidence  in  our  chief,  our  own  opinions  must  be  founded 
only  on  doubtful  conjectures.  The  royal  army  at  New 
York,  have  received  a  reinforcement  of  three  thousand 
Germans  from  Europe. 

202/i. — According  to  orders,  we  commenced  our  line  of 
march  yesterday,  a  party  of  pioneers  being  sent  forward 
to  clear  the  road  towards  King's-bridge,  and  we  expected 
immediately  to  follow  in  that  direction ;  but  an  arrny  is 
a  machine,  whose  motions  are  directed  by  its  chief.  When 
the  troops  were  paraded  for  the  march,  they  were  ordered 
to  the  right  about,  and,  making  a  retrograde  movement 
up  the  side  of  the  North  river,  we  have  reached  King's- 
ferry,  and  are  preparing  to  cross  the  Hudson  at  this  ferry. 
Our  allies  are  in  our  rear,  and  it  is  probable  we  are  des 
tined  to  occupy  the  ground  on  the  Jersey  side. 

Blst. — Colonel  Laurens  has  arrived  at  head-quarters  on, 
his  way  from  Boston  to  Philadelphia.  This  gentleman  is 
the  son  of  Mr.  Henry  Laurens,  our  ambassador  to  Holland, 
who  is  now  confined  in  the  tower  of  London.  We  have 
the  pleasing  information  that  he  has  brought  with  him 
from  France  a  large  sum  of  specie  for  the  United  States. 
He  reports  that  the  different  powers  of  continental  Europe 
are  friendly  to  the  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged. 

Our  situation  reminds  me  of  some  theatrical  exhibition, 
where  the  interest  and  expectations  of  the  spectators  are 
continually  increasing,  and  where  curiosity  is  wrought  to 
the  highest  point.  Our  destination  has  been  for  some 
time  matter  of  perplexing  doubt  and  uncertainty;  bets 
have  run  high  on  one  side  that  we  were  to  occupy  the 
ground  marked  out  on  the  Jersey  shore,  to  aid  in  the  siege 
of  New  York,  and  on  the  other,  that  we  are  stealing  a 
march  on  the  enemy,  and  are  actually  destined  to  Virginia, 
in  pursuit  of  the  army  under  Lord  Cornwallis.  We  crossed 


270  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

at  King's-feny,  21st  instant,  and  encamped  at  Haverstraw. 
A  number  of  batteaux,  mounted  on  carriages,  have  fol 
lowed  in  our  train,  supposed  for  the  purpose  of  convey 
ing  the  troops  over  to  Staten  Island.  22d,  Resumed  our 
line  of  march,  passing  rapidly  through  Paramus,  Acquack- 
anack,  Springfield  and  Princeton.  We  have  now  passed 
all  the  enemy's  posts,  and  are  pursuing  our  route  with  in 
creased  rapidity  towards  Philadelphia;  wagons  have  been 
prepared  to  carry  the  soldiers'  packs,  that  they  may  press 
forward  with  greater  facility.  Our  destination  can  no 
longer  be  a  secret.  The  British  army,  under  Lord  Corn 
wallis,  is  unquestionably  the  object  of  our  present  expe 
dition.  It  is  now  rumored  that  a  French  fleet  may  soon 
be  expected  to  arrive  in  Chesapeake  bay,  to  cooperate 
with  the  allied  army  in  that  quarter.  The  great  secret 
respecting  our  late  preparations  and  movements  can  now 
be  explained.  It  was  a  judiciously  concerted  stratagem, 
calculated  to  menace  and  alarm  Sir  Henry  Clinton  for  the 
safety  of  the  garrison  of  New  York,  and  induce  him  to 
recall  a  part  of  his  troops  from  Virginia,  for  his  own  de 
fence  ;  or,  perhaps,  keeping  an  eye  on  the  city,  to  attempt 
its  capture,  provided  that  by  the  arrival  of  a  French  fleet, 
favorable  circumstances  should  present.  The  deception 
has  proved  completely  successful;  a  part  of  Cornwallis' 
troops  are  reported  to  have  returned  to  New  York.  His 
Excellency  General  WashingtSn,  having  succeeded  in  a 
masterly  piece  of  generalship,  has  now  the  satisfaction  of 
leaving  his  adversary  to  ruminate  on  his  own  mortifying 
situation,  and  to  anticipate  the  perilous  fate  which  awaits 
his  friend,  Lord  Cornwallis,  in  a  different  quarter.  Major 
General  Heath  is  left  commander-in-chief  of  our  army  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York  and  the  highlands,  and  the 
menacing  aspect  of  an  attack  on  New  York  will  be  con 
tinued  till  time  and  circumstances  shall  remove  the  delu 
sive  veil  from  the  eyes  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  when  it  will 
probably  be  too  late  to  afford  succour  to  Lord  Cornwallis. 
To  our  officers,  the  inactivity  of  the  royal  army  in  New 
York  is  truly  unaccountable:  they  might,  without  risk 
ing  a  great  deal,  harass  our  army  on.  its  march,  and  sub 
ject  us  to  irreparable  injury;  but  the  royalists  are  more 
dexterous  in  availing  themselves  of  treachery  and  insur 
rection,  than  in  effecting  valorous  achievements.  In  pass- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  271 

ing  through  Princeton,  but  little  time  was  allowed  me  to 
visit  the  college.  This  once  celebrated  seminary  is  now 
destitute  of  students,  and  the  business  of  education  is 
entirely  suspended  in  consequence  of  the  constant  bustle 
and  vicissitudes  of  war.  The  little  village  of  Princeton 
is  beautifully  situated,  and  the  college  edifice  is  of  stone, 
four  stories  high,  and  lighted  by  twenty-five  windows  in 
front  in  each  story.  It  has  suffered  considerable  injury 
in  being  occupied  alternately  by  the  soldiers  of  the  two 
contending  armies.  Trenton,  where  we  are  now  encamped 
for  the  night,  is  a  much  more  considerable  village,  and 
more  advantageously  situated,  on  the  north-eastern  bank 
of  the  Delaware,  twenty-seven  miles  above  Philadelphia. 
This  is  the  town  which  General  Washington  has  rendered 
famous  to  the  latest  times,  by  a  victory  in  which  he  so 
happily  displayed  the  resources  of  his  genius,  in  the  se 
vere  winter  of  1776.  Great  indeed  must  be  the  resources 
of  that  man  who  can  render  himself  the  most  formidable 
to  an  enemy,  when  apparently  he  is  the  most  destitute 
of  power.  General  Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau 
having  proceeded  to  Virginia  by  land,  Major-General  Lin 
coln  takes  the  command  of  our  troops,  and  the  Baron  de 
Viomenil  those  of  the  French. 

September  8th. — We  crossed  the  Delaware  river  at  Tren 
ton  ferry  on  the  1st  instant,  and  in  the  afternoon  crossed 
a  small  river  at  Shammany's  rope  ferry.  Our  boats  were 
pulled  across  with  facility  by  a  rope  made  fast  at  each 
shore.  We  marched  nineteen  miles,  and  encamped  at  a 
place  called  Lower  Dublin.  2d,  In  the  afternoon,  marched 
through  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  streets  being  ex 
tremely  dirty,  and  the  weather  warm  and  dry,  we  raised 
a  dust  like  a  smothering  snow-storm,  blinding  our  eyes 
and  covering  our  bodies  with  it;  this  was  not  a  little  mor 
tifying,  as  the  ladies  were  viewing  us  from  the  open  win 
dows  of  every  house  as  we  passed  through  this  splendid 
city.  The  scene  must  have  been  exceedingly  interesting 
to  the  inhabitants;  and,  contemplating  the  noble  cause  in 
which  we  are  engaged,  they  must  have  experienced  in 
their  hearts  a  glow  of  patriotism,  if  not  emotions  of  mili 
tary  ardor.  Our  line  of  march,  including  appendages  and 
attendants,  extended  nearly  two  miles.  The  general  offi 
cers  and  their  aids,  in  rich  military  uniform,  mounted  on 


272  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

noble  steeds  elegantly  caparisoned,  were  followed  by  their 
servants  and  baggage.  In  the  rear  of  every  brigade  were 
several  field-pieces,  accompanied  by  ammunition  carriages. 
The  soldiers  marched  in  slow  and  solemn  step,  regulated 
by  the  drum  and  4ife.  In  the  rear  followed  a  great  num.* 
ber  of  wagons,  loaded  with  tents,  provisions  and  other 
baggage,  such  as  a  few  soldiers'  wives  and  children  ;  though 
a  very  small  number  of  these  are  allowed  to  encumber  us 
on  this  occasion.  The  day  following,  the  French  troops 
marched  through  the  city,  dressed  in  complete  uniform 
of  white  broadcloth,  faced  with  green,  and  besides  the 
drum  and  fife,  they  were  furnished  with  a  complete  band 
of  music,  which  operates  like  enchantment.* 

*  The  following  is  extracted  from  letters  published  by  a  French  cler 
gyman,  in  Count  Rochambeau's  army: 

"The  arrival  of  the  French  army  at  Philadelphia  was  more  like  a 
triumph,  than  simply  passing  through  the  place;  the  troops  made  a  halt 
about  a  quarter  of  a  league  from  the  city,  and  in  an  instant  were  dressed 
as  elegantly  as  ever  the  soldiers  of  a  garrison  were  on  a  day  of  review; 
they  then  marched  through  the  town,  with  the  military  music  playing 
before  them,  which  is  always  particularly  pleasing  to  the  Americans;  the 
streets  were  crowded  with  people,  and  the  ladies  appeared  at  the  win 
dows  in  their  most  brilliant  attire.  All  Philadelphia  was  astonished  to 
8ee  people  who  had  endured  the  fatigues  of  a  long  journey, so  ruddy  and 
handsome,  and  even  wondered  that  there  could  possibly  be  Frenchmen 
of  so  genteel  an  appearance. 

"The  troops  next  marched  in  single  file  before  the  Congress  and  M.  le 
Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  minister  from  the  court  of  France,  and  after*, 
wards  encamped  in  a  large  plain  contiguous  to  the  river  Schuylkill.  The 
next  day  after  our  arrival,  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais  went  through  the 
exercise  of  fire-arms;  at  least  twenty  thousand  persons,  and  avast  num 
ber  of  carriages,  remarkable  for  their  lightness  and  elegance,  added  to 
the  lustre  of  this  exhibition,  which  was  still  heightened  by  the  pleasant 
ness  of  the  situation  and  the  remarkable  serenity  of  the  day.  The  ra 
pidity  of  the  military  evolutions,  the  soldierly  appearance  of  the  troops 
in  general,  and  the  exactness  of  their  motions,  surprised  and  enraptured 
the  beholders. 

"  We  were  a  good  deal  amused  with  a  mistake  of  some  of  the  common 
people,  who  took  for  a  general  one  of  those  alert  fellows  whom  our 
commanding  officers  commonly  have  in  their  retinue  to  run  up  and  down 
to  carry  their  written  orders.  His  short,  tight-bodied  coat,  his  rich  waist 
coat,  with  a  silver  fringe,  his  rose-colored  shoes,  his  cap,  adorned  with  a 
coat-of-arms,  and  his  cane,  with  an  enormous  head — all  appeared  to  them 
so  many  tokens  of  extraordinary  dignity.  Though  he  approached  his 
master, 'the  colonel-commandant,  merely  to  receive  and  publish  his 
orleis,  they  imagined  that  he  gave  them  of  his  own  accord,  and  directed 
the  movements  of  the  troops,  independently  of  any  superior. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  273 

3d. — We  crossed  the  river  Schuylkill,  over  a  floating 
bridge,  and  encamped 'four  miles  from  Philadelphia,  where 
we  continued  through  the  day,  to  give  the  men  time  to 
rest  and  wash  their  clothes.  4th,  Marched  through  Wil 
mington,  eighteen  miles.  This  is  a  haudsome,  flourishing 

"  The  President  of  Congress,  the  Honorable  Thomas  McKean,  Esquire, 
in  a  suit  of  black  velvet,  honored  this  review  with  his  presence.  These 
honest  Pennsylvanians  differ  very  considerably  from  us  in  the  ceremonies 
of  dress,  as  we  differ  from  them  again  in  our  modes  of  legislation* 

"The  manoeuvres  of  our  troops  raised  the  most  flattering  expectations 
in  the  minds  of  the  spectators;  and  they  did  not  hesitate  to  declare  that 
such  soldiers  were  invincible. 

"This  day  was  destined  for  favorable  omens.  M.  le  Chevalier  de  la 
Luzerne,  who  on  this  occasion  received  his  countrymen  with  the  dignity 
and  generosity  of  the  representative  of  a  great  monarch,  and  the  frank 
ness  arid  cordiality  of  an  individual,  after  the  review,  invited  all  the* 
officers  to  dine  with  him.  Hardly  were  we  seated  at  the  table,  when 
an  express  arrived;  a  disquieting  silence  immediately  seized  every  guest 
— our  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  every  one  endeav 
oring  to  guess  what  the  message  would  turn  out  to  be — 'Thirty-six 
ships  of  the  line,'  said  he,  'commanded  by  Monsieur  le  Comtc  de  Grasse, 
are  arrived  in  Chesapeake  bay,  and  three  thousand  men  have  landed, 
and  opened  a  communication  with  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.'  Joy  and 
good-humor  immediately  resumed  their  place  on  every  countenance. 
Our  impatient  leaders  began  to  count' the  days,  and  reckon  how  long  it 
would  be  before  they  could  have  it  in  their  power  to  face  the  enemy, 
and  their  heated  imaginations  made  the  time  much  shorter  than  it  after 
wards  proved  to  be.  Healths  were  next  drank;  and  that  of  the  minister 
of  the  marine  of  France  was  not  forgotten,  whose  activity  and  great 
abilities  have  paved  the  way  to  the  most  brilliant  successes  of  our  fleet; 
the  presence  of  his  son,  M.  le  Comte  de  Chartre,  second  colonel  of  the 
regiment  of  Saintonge,  added  still  more  to  our  pleasure  and  satisfaction. 

"Among  others,  Charles  Thomson,  the  Secretary  of  Congress,  the 
soul  of  that  political  body,  came  also  to  receive  and  present  his  compli 
ments.  His  meagre  figure,  furrowed  countenance,  his  hollow,  sparkling 
eyes,  his  white  strait  hair,  that  did  not  hang  quite  so  low  as  his  ears, 
fixed  our  thorough  attention,  and  filled  us  with  surprise  and  admiration. 

"The  important  news  of  the  arrival  of  Count  de  Grasse  was  soon 
spread  throughout  the  city,  and  echoes  of  joy  were  heard  from  every 
quarter;  some  merry  fellows,  mounted  on  scaffolds  and  stages,  pro 
nounced  funeral  orations  for  Cornwallis,  and  uttered  lamentations  on 
the  grief  and  distress  of  the  tories.  The  people  ran  in  crowds  to  the 
residence  of  the  minister  of  France;  and '  Long  live  Louis  the  Sixteenth  /' 
was  the  general  cry. 

"Thus  you  see  the  people  are  universally  persuaded  of  the  success  of 
this  expedition.  Could  these  flattering  hopes  be  realized,  they  would 
hasten  a  peace,  which  in  our  situation,  and  under  the  wise  and  benevo 
lent  prince  that  governs  us,  would  place  France  in  a  point  of  view  that 
has  been  wholly  unknown  since  the  existence  .of  her  monarchy." 


274  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

village,  situated  on  the  Delaware  river,  on  a  small  branch 
of  which  is  erected  eight  very  large  and  valuable  stone 
mills,  where  an  immense  quantity  of  wheat  is  ground  and 
bolted.  The  wheat  is  brought  in  vessels  to  the  very  door, 
and  the  flour  taken  off  in  return.  The  Kev.  Mr.  Smith, 
minister  of  this  place,  and  Dr.  Smith,  his  brother,  politely 
introduced  themselves  to  me,  and  I  took  tea  and  spent  the 
evening  at  Dr.  Smith's,  in  social  friendship.  Marched 
again  on  the  5th,  and  on.  the  6th  arrived  at  the  head  of 
Elk  river,  Maryland,  in  the  morning,  having  completed  a 
march  of  two  hundre'd  miles  in  fifteen  days. 

An  express  has  now  arrived  from  Virginia,  with  the 
pleasing  intelligence  that  Count  de  Grasse  has  actually 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake  bay,  with  a  fleet 
of  thirty-six  ships  of  the  line,  and  three  thousand  land 
forces,  which  are  landed,  and  have  joined  our  troops  under 
the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  in  Virginia. 

The  royal  army,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  has  taken  post 
in  Yorktown,  situated  on  York  river,  in  Virginia,  where 
he  has  constructed  strong  fortifications  for  his  defence; 
but  his  communication  by  water  is  now  entirely  cut  off  by 
several  French  ships  stationed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 
Preparation  is  constantly  making  for  our  troops  and  our 
allies  who  have  arrived  here,  to  embark  at  the  head  of  Elk 
river,  whence  we  shall  proceed  down  the  Chesapeake  bay 
to  Yorktown,  in  pursuit  of  the  object  of  our  expedition. 
About  eighty  vessels  are  in  readiness,  great  activity  pre 
vails,  embarkation  has  commenced,  and  our  horses  are 
sent  round  to  Virginia  by  land.  It  falls  to  my  lot  to  take 
passage  on  board  a  small  schooner,  with  four  other  officers 
and  sixty  men.  She  is  so  deeply  laden  with  cannon, 
mortars  and  other  ordnance,  that  our  situation  will  be 
attended  with  considerable  danger,  if  rough  weather 
should  overtake  us. 

llth. — Sailed  at  four  o'clock  P.  M.  on  board  the  schooner 
Glasco,  beat  against  contrary  wind  down  the  Elk  river, 
and  at  sun-rise  next  morning  entered  the  head  of  the  great 
Chesapeake  bay,  eighteen  miles  from  the  place  of  embark 
ation.  The  bay  at  its  entrance  is  six  or  seven  miles  wide, 
and  has  two  rivers  which  empty  into  it  on  the  west  side — 
the  North-east  river  and  the  great  Susquehanna,  which 
takes  its  origin  at  Lake  Otsego,  six  hundred  miles  from 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  275 

this  bay.  Another  river,  called  Sassafras,  which  empties 
into  the  bay  on  the  east  side,  is  navigable  to  Georgetown, 
twelve  miles.  Pool's  Island  affords  a  romantic  prospect, 
being  about  two  miles  long,  and  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
wide,  supporting  two  families.  About  twelve  miles  further 
down,  the  'bay  widens  to  about  ten  miles,  and  on  the  west 
side  is  the  river  Patapsco;  at  the  head  of  which,  twelve 
miles  from  its  mouth,  stands  the  town  of  Baltimore,  which 
admits  large  ships  into  its  capacious  and  convenient  harbor. 
Nearly  opposite  to  this,  Chester  river  empties  into  the  bay 
on  the  eastern  shore,  and  is  navigable  fifty  miles. 

The  town  of  Annapolis,  the  metropolis  of  Maryland,  is 
situated  on  the  western  shore  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Severn,  where  it  falls  into  the  bay.  We  came  to  anchor 
in  the  harbor  at  sun-setting,  and  I  accompanied  several 
officers  to  the  coffee-house,  and  partook  of  a  handsome 
supper.  A  very  severe  shower  of  rain,  with  high  winds 
and  extreme  darkness,  obliged  us  to  spend  the  night  on 
shore.  On  the  13th,  we  returned  on  board  at  seven  o'clock, 
and  proceeded  on  our  voyage  before  a  fresh  gale,  but  had 
not  sailed  more  than  four  miles,  when  \ve  were  recalled 
by  express  to  the  harbor  of  Annapolis.  This  is  in  conse 
quence  of  intelligence  of  a  naval  action  between  the  British 
and  French  fleets  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake  bay. 
Our  safety  requires  that  we  should  remain  in  port  till  the 
event  of  the  battle  is  known.  Should  the  British  have 
obtained  the  victory,  and  should  they  get  possession  of 
the  Chesapeake  bay,  we  shall  be  unable  to  proceed  on  our 
voyage,  and  our  expedition  will  be  entirely  defeated. 
Annapolis  is  a  very  inconsiderable  city,  but  the  buildings 
are  chiefly  of  brick,  and  many  of  them  are  in  a  style  of 
elegance  and  grandeur.  The  state-house,  in  the  centre  of 
the  city,  is  a  most  splendid  and  magnificent  piece  of  arch 
itecture;  it  is  topped  with  a  handsome  dome;  the  several 
apartments  are  finished  in  a  style  surpassing  every  thing 
which  I  have  before  witnessed.  The  archives  for 'the  se 
curity  of  the  public  records  are  fire-proof.  It  is  remarkable 
that  there  is  not  a  church  in  the  city,  though  they  have  an 
ordinary  building  which  they  occupy  for  a  theatre.  We 
were  treated  with  much  politeness  and  hospitality,  and 
received  an  invitation  to  dine  at  the  house  of  a  respectable 
gentleman.  In  the  evening  we  attended  the  theatre,  and 


276  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

were  entertained  by  a  Mr.  Wall,  who  exhibited  Stephens' 
Lecture  on  Heads,  greatly  to  the  amusement  of  the  audi 
ence;  after  which,  Mrs.  Wall  exhibited  a  variety  of  amus 
ing  scenes,  and  her  little  daughter,  of  seven  years  of  age. 
spoke  an  epilogue,  and  sung  several  songs  to  the  admira 
tion  of  all  present. 

Information  has  just  reached  us  that  after  General  Arnold 
had  returned  from  his  depredating  expedition  to  Virginia, 
he- was  despatched  on  a  ne'w  incursion  to  Connecticut,  his 
native  state.  Uis  force  consisted  of  two  thousand  infantry 
and  three  hundred  cavalry,  accompanied  by  forty  sail  of 
ships  and  transports.  lie  landed  his  troops  at  the  mouth 
of  New  London  harbor,  and  proceeded  to  the  town.  Fort 
Trumbull  not  being  tenable,  was  soon  evacuated  by  our 
people,  but  Fort  Griswold  on  the  other  side  of  the  river 
was  courageously  defended  by  Colonel  Ledyard  and  a  few 
militia-men  hastily  collected.  The  assault  on  this  fort  was 
made  by  Colonel  Eyre,  who  was  three  or  four  times  re 
pulsed,  and  finally  received  himself  a  mortal  wound;  and 
Major  Montgomery  being  killed,  the  command  devolved 
on  Major  Bromfield,  who,  by  a  superior  force  and  much 
resolution,  carried  the  place  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
On  entering  the  fort,  the  British  officer  inquiring  who 
commanded,  Colonel  Ledyard  answered,  "I  did,  sir,  but 
you  do  now,"  and  presented  him  his  sword  as  a  prisoner, 
when  the  British  officer  plunged  his  sword  into  the  body 
of  Colonel  Ledyard,  and  several  soldiers  assisted  with 
their  bayonets  in  despatching  him.  An  indiscriminate 
slaughter  by  the  bayonet  of  those  who  had  surrendered 
immediately  ensued,  and  seventy-three  men  were  left  dead 
in  the  fort,  about  forty  wounded,  and  the  same  number 
taken  prisoners.  Arnold  continued  on  the  New  London 
side,  suffering  the  town  to  be  plundered;  and  by  a  con 
flagration,  sixty  dwelling-houses  and  eighty-four  stores 
were  entirely  destroyed.  The  loss  which  we  sustained 
was  very  considerable,  consisting  of  vessels,  naval-stores, 
European  goods,  provisions,  &c.,  and  not  less  than  one 
hundred  inhabitants  were  deprived  of  their  habitations 
and  all  their  property.  The  militia  collected,  and  con 
ducted  with  great  spirit  and  alacrity  in  avenging  the  mur 
der  of  their  friends,  and  they  hastened  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy,  after  the  loss  of  two  officers  and  forty-six  rank  and 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  277 

file  killed,  and  eight  officers  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  rank  and  file  wounded.  It  is  reported  that  a  wagon, 
loaded  with  their  wounded  soldiers,  was  put  in  motion 
from  the  top  of  a  long  and  steep  hill,  which  in  its  rapid 
course  struck  an  apple-tree  with  such  force  that  the  faint 
arid  bleeding  men  received  a  shock  which  killed  a  part  of 
them  instantly.  It  is  highly  probable  that  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  projected  this  expedition  to  Connecticut,  in  the 
hope  of  diverting  General  Washington  from  his  enterprise 
against  Earl  Cornwallis;  but  this  manoeuvre  will  not 
eifect  his  object. 

loth. — The  gratifying  intelligence  is  announced  that  the 
naval  engagement  between  the  two  fleets  has  resulted  in 
the  defeat  of  the  British  with  considerable  loss,  and  the 
French  have  now  the  sole  command  of  the  Chesapeake 
bay.  This  event  is  of.  infinite  importance,  and  fills  our 
hearts  with  joy,  as  we  can  now  proceed  on  our  expedition. 

16$. — We  obeyed  the  signal  for  sailing,  and  passed 
Sharp's  island,  which  is  situated  in  the  middle  of  the  bay, 
two  miles  long  and  one  wide;  it  supports  four  families. 
Sent  one  boat  on  shore,  and  procured  some  poultry  and 
fruit.  18th,  Passed  the  great  Potomac,  which  divides  the 
states  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  At  its  mouth  it  is  about 
fifteen  miles  wide;  it  is  navigable  for  large  ships,  up  to 
Georgetown,  which  is  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles  dis 
tant,  on  the  Maryland  shore,  while  the  city  of  Alexandria 
is  situated  a  few  miles  below,  it  on  the  Virginia  shore. 
The  bay  at  this  place  is  about  thirty  miles  wide.  The 
wind  this  afternoon  has  blown  with  all  the  violence  of  a 
gale;  the  bow  of  our  vessel,  in  ploughing  through  the 
billows,  is  frequently  brought  under  water,  which  keeps 
us  in  perpetual  alarm.  We  passed  York  river  on  the 
western  or  Virginia  shore,  fifteen  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
which  stands  Yorktownj  where  the  royal  army  under  Lord 
Cornwallis  is  posted,  and  which  it  is  the  object  of  our  ex 
pedition  to  capture.  He  is  completely  blockaded  by  three 
French  ships  of  the  line  and  several  smaller  armed  vessels 
lying  at  the  mouth  of  York  river.  20th,  Passed  Hampton 
road,  and  entered  James  river,  which  is  at  its  entrance 
about  five  miles  wide.  We  enjoyed  a  distant  view  of  the 
grand  French  fleet,  riding  at  anchor  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Chesapeake,  consisting  of  thirty-six  ships  of  war,  besides 


278  MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

frigates  and  other  armed  vessels.  This  was  the  most  noble 
and  majestic  spectacle  I  ever  witnessed,  and  we  viewed  it 
with  inexpressible  pleasure,  and  the  warmest  gratitude  was 
excited  in  every  breast  towards  our  great  ally. 

22</. — Reached  the  harbor  between  Jamestown  and 
Williamsburg,  where  the  greater  part  of  our  transports 
arrived  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  the  troops  disem 
barked  and  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  within 
twelve  miles  of  Yorktown.  We  now  congratulated  our 
selves  on  having  completed  our  voyage  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  which,  on  account  of  contrary  winds  and 
detention  at  Annapolis,  has  occupied  twelve  days;  vessels 
with  troops  are  arriving  every  day.  Jamestown  is  the 
place  where  the  English  first  established  themselves  in 
Virginia,  in  1607.  Though  the  most  ancient  settlement  in 
America,  it  cannot  now  be  called  a  town,  there  being  but 
two  houses  standing  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  25th, 
Marched  from  the  landing-place  through  the  city  of  Wil 
liamsburg.  This  is  the  capital  of  Virginia,  but  in  other 
respects  is  of  little  importance.  It  is  situated  on  a  level 
piece  of  land,  at  an  equal  distance  between  two  small 
rivers,  one  of  which  falls  into  York,  the  other  into  James 
river.  The  city  is  one  mile  and  a  quarter  in  length,  and 
contains  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  houses.  The  main 
street  is  more  than  one  hundred  feet  in  width,  and  .exactly 
one  mile  in  length :  at  one  of  the  extremities,  and  fronting 
the  street,  is  the  capitol,  or  state-house,  a  handsome  edifice, 
and  at  the  other  end  is  the  college,  capable  of  accommo 
dating  three  hundred  students,  but  the  tumult  of  war  has 
broken  up  the  institution.  The  college  is  about  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  feet  in  length  and  forty  in  breadth,  with 
two  handsome  wings,  fifty  by  thirty.  Their  library  is 
said  to  consist  of  about  three  thousand  volumes.  Near 
the  centre  of  the  city  is  a  large  qjiurch,  and  not  far  from 
it  the  palace,  the  usual  residence  of  the  governor,  which 
is  a  splendid  building.  The  water  in  this  vicinity  is  ex 
tremely  brackish  and  disagreeable.  This  part  of  the  state 
of  Virginia  is  celebrated  for  the  excellent  tobacco  which  it 
produces,  and  this  is  their  principal  staple  commodity, 
though  the  culture  of  cotton  receives  some  attention.  In 
dian  corn,  hemp  and  flax,  are  also  among  the  productions 
of  this  state.  The  population  of  Virginia  is  computed  at 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  379 

one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  whites,  and  five  hun 
dred  thousand  blacks.  Manual  labor,  therefore,  is  per 
formed  almost  entirely  by  the  latter  class,  leaving  the 
whites  little  else  to  do  but  to  oversee  their  large  estates 
and  to  cultivate  their  minds.  This  may  be  one  of  the 
principal  reasons  why  it  produces  so  many  celebrated 
statesmen ;  as  it  will  be  readily  admitted  that  our  coun 
try  has  very  few  that  will  equal  her  Washington's, 
Patrick  Henry's,  Randolph's,  and  many  others  of  the 
same  school. 

27th. — We  arrived  at  Yorktown  yesterday  from  James 
town,  and  have  encamped  within  one  mile  of  the  enemy's 
line  of  redoubts. 

28th. — The  French  troops  have  arrived  and  encamped 
on  our  left.  Yorktown  is  situated  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  river,  about  fifteen  miles  from  its  entrance  into  Ches 
apeake  bay.  In  this  little  village,  Lord  Cornwallis,  with 
about  seven  thousand  troops,  has  taken  his  station,  and  is 
endeavoring  to  fortifyhimself  against  the  impending  dan 
ger  of  our  combined  operations.  His  communication  by 
water  is  entirely  cut  off  by  the  French  ships  of  war  sta 
tioned  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  preventing  both  his  escape 
and  receiving  succor  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New  York. 
The  allied  army  is  about  twelve  thousand  strong,  exclusive 
of  the  militia,  under  Governor  Nelson.  The  Americans 
form  the  right,  and  the  French  the  left  wing  of  the  com 
bined  forces,  each  extending  to  the  borders  of  the  river, 
by  which  the  besiegers  form  a  half-circle  round  the  town. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington  commands  in  person, 
and  is  assisted  by  Major-General  Lincoln,  Baron  Steuben, 
the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  General  Knox,  &c.  The  French 
troops  are  commanded  by  General  the  Count  Rochambeau, 
a  brave  and  experienced  officer,  having  under  him  a  num 
ber  of  officers  of  distinguished  character.  Unbounded 
confidence  is  reposed  in  our  illustrious  commanders,  the 
spirit  of  emulation  and  military  ardor  universally  prevails, 
and  we  are  sanguine  in  our  expectations  that  a  surrender 
of  the  royal  army  must  be  his  lordship's  fate. 

A  cannonade  commenced  yester^nv  from  the  town,  by 
which  one  man  was  wounded,  and  I  ass.sted  in  amputating 
his  leg.  30th.  We  were  agreeably  surprised  this  morning, 


280  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

to  find  that  the  enemy  had,  during  the  preceding  night, 
abandoned  three  or  four  of  their  redoubts,  and  retired 
within  the  town,  leaving  a  considerable  extent  of  com 
manding  ground,  which  might  have  cost  us  much  labor 
and  many  lives  to  obtain  by  force.  Our  light  infantry 
and  a  party  of  French  were  ordered  to  advance  and  take 
possession  of  the  abandoned  ground,  and  to  serve  as  a 
covering  party  to  our  troops  who  are  employed  in  throw 
ing  up  breastworks.  Considerable  cannonading  from  the 
besieged  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  four  militia-men 
were  wounded  by  a  single  shot,  one  of  whom  died  soon 
after.  An  occurrence  has  just  been  announced  which  fills 
our  hearts  with  grief  and  sorrow.  Colonel  Alexander 
Scammel  being  officer  of  the  day,  while  reconnoitering 
the  ground  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned,  was  surprised 
by  a  party  of  their  horse,  and  after  having  surrendered, 
they  had  the  baseness  to  inflict  a  wound  which  we  fear 
will  prove  mortal;  they  have  carried  him  into  Yorktown. 

October  1st  and  2d. — Our  troops  have  been  engaged  in 
throwing  up  two  redoubts  in  the  night  time ;  on  discovery, 
the  enemy  commenced  a  furious  cannonade,  but  it  does 
not  deter  our  men  from  going  on  vigorously  with  their 
work.  Heavy  cannon  and  mortars  are  continually  arriving, 
and  the  greatest  preparations  are  made  to  prosecute  the 
siege  in  the  most  effectual  manner. 

3d  and  4th. — A  considerable  cannonading  from  the  en 
emy;  one  shot  killed  three  men,  and  mortally  wounded 
another.  While  the  Eev.  Mr.  Evans,  our  chaplain,  was 
standing  near  the  commander-in-chief,  a  shot  struck  the 
ground  so  near  as  to  cover  his  hat  with  sand.  Being  much 
agitated,  he  took  off  his  hat,  and  said,  "See  here,  general." 
"Mr.  Evans,"  replied  his  excellency,  with  his  usual  com 
posure,  "you  had  better  carry  that  home,  and  show  it  to 
your  wife  and  children."  Two  soldiers  from  the  French, 
and  one  from  us,  deserted  to  the  enemy,  and  two  British 
soldiers  deserted  to  our  camp  the  same  night.  The  enemy 
from  the  want  of  forage  are  killing  off  their  horses  in 
great  numbers;  six  or  seven  hundred  of  these  valuable 
animals  have  been  killed,  and  their  carcases  are  almost 
continually  floating  down  the  river.  The  British  are  in 
possession  of  a  place  called  Gloucester,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  Yorktown ;  their  force  con- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  281 

sisis  of  one  British  regiment,  and  Colonel  Tarleton's  legion 
of  horse  and  infantry.  In  opposition  to  this  force  the 
French  legion,  under  the  command  of  the  Duke  de  Lu- 
zerne,  and  a  detachment  of  French  infantry  and  militia, 
are  posted  in  that  vicinity.  Tarleton  is  a  bold  and  impetu 
ous  leader,  and  has  spread  terror  through  the  Carolinas 
and  Virginia  for  some  time  past.  In  making  a  sally  from 
Gloucester  yesterday,  they  were  attacked  by  the  French, 
and  defeated  with  the  loss  of  the  commanding  officer  of 
their  infantry,  and  about  fifty  men  killed  and  wounded ; 
among  the  latter  is  Tarleton  himself.  The  duke  lost  three 
men  killed,  and  two  officers  and  eleven  men  wounded.  It 
is  with  much  concern  we  learn  that  Colonel  Scammel  died 
at  Williamsburg,  -of  the  wound  which  he  received  a  few 
days  since,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner;  the  wound  was 
inflicted  after  he  had  surrendered.  At  the  request  of  Gen 
eral  Washington,  Lord  Cornwallis  allowed  him  to  be  car 
ried  to  Williamsburg,  where  he  died  this  day,  universally 
lamented,  as  he  was  while  living  universally  respected  and 
esteemed.  The  commander-in-chief  was  well  apprised  of 
his  merit,  and  bestowed  on  him  marks  of  his  friendly  re 
gard  and  confidence.  For  some  time  he  sustained  the 
office  of  adjutant-general  to  our  army,  but  preferring  a 
more  active  command  and  the  post  of  danger,  he  was  put 
at  the  head  of  a  regiment  of  light-infantry  for  this  enter 
prising  campaign.  The  British  have  sent  from  Yorktown  a 
large  number  of  negroes,  sick  with  the  small-pox,  probably 
for  the  purpose  of  communicating  the  infection  to  our 
army.  Thus  our  inhuman  enemies  resort  to  every  method 
in  their  power,  however,  barbarous  or  cruel,  to  injure  and 
distress,  and  thus  to  gain  an  advantage  over  their  opposers. 
1th. — A  large  detachment  of  the  allied  army,  under 
command  of  Major-General  Lincoln,  were  ordered  out  last 
evening  for  the  purpose  of  opening  intrenchments  near 
the  enemy's  lines.  This  business  was  conducted  with  great 
silence  and  secrecy,  and  we  were  favored  by  Providence 
with  a  night  of  extreme  darkness,  and  were  not  discovered 
before  day-light.  The  working  party  carried  on  their 
shoulders  fascines  and  intrenching  tools,  while  a  large  part 
of  the  detachment  was  armed  with  the  implements  of  death. 
Horses,  drawing  cannon  and  ordnance,  and  wagons  loaded 
with  bags  filled  with  sand  for  constructing  breastworks, 


282  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

followed  in  the  rear.  Thus  arranged,  every  officer  and' 
soldier  knowing  his  particular  station,  orders  were  given 
to  advance  in  perfect  silence,  the  distance  about  one  mile. 
My  station  on  this  occasion  was  with  Dr.  Munson,  my 
mate,  in  the  rear  of  the  troops ;  and  as  the  music  was  not 
to  be  employed,  about  twenty  drummers  and  fifers  were 
put  under  my  charge  to  assist  me  in  case  of  having 
wounded  men  to  attend.  I  put  into  the  hands  of  a  drum 
mer,  a  mulatto  fellow,  my  instruments,  bandages,  &c.,  with 
a  positive  order  to  keep  at  my  elbow,  and  not  lose  sight 
of  me  a  moment;  it  was  not  long,  however,  before  I  found 
to  my  astonishment  that  he  had  left  me,  and  gone  in  pur 
suit  of  some  rum,  carrying  off  the  articles  which  are  in 
dispensable  in  time  of  action.  In  this  very  unpleasant 
predicament,  unwilling  to  trust  another,  I  hastened  with 
all  speed  to  the  hospital,  about  one  mile,  to  procure  another 
supply  from  Dr.  Craik;  and  he  desired  that  if  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette  should  be  wounded,  I  would  devote  to  him 
my  first  attention.  On  my  return  I  found  Dr.  Munson 
and  my  party  waiting,  but  the  troops  had  marched  on  and 
we  knew  not  their  route.  We  were  obliged  to  follow  at 
random,  and  in  the  darkness  of  night,  hazarding  our  ap 
proach  to  the  enemy.  Having  advanced  about  half  a  mile, 
of  a  sudden  a  party  of  armed  men  in  white  uniform  rose 
from  the  ground,  and  ordered  us  to  stop ;  they  proved  to 
be  the  rear-guard  of  the  French.  The  officer  demanded 
the  countersign,  which  I  was  unable  to  give,  and  as  we 
could  not  understand  each  others'  language,  I  was  detained 
under  considerable  embarrassment  till  an  officer  who  could 
speak  English  was  called,  when  producing  my  instruments 
and  bandages,  and  assuring  the  French  officer  that  I  was 
surgeon  to  the  infantry,  he  politely  conducted  me  to  my 
station.  Our  troops  were  indefatigable  in  their  labors 
during  the  night,  and  before  day-light  they  had  nearly 
completed  the  first  parallel  line  of  nearly  two  miles  in 
extent,  besides  laying  a  foundation  for  two  redoubts,  within 
about  six  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  lines.  At  day-light 
the  enemy,  having -discovered  our  works,  commenced  a  se 
vere  cannonade,  but  our  men  being  under  cover,  received 
no  injury.  A  French  soldier  deserted  to  the  enemy ;  after 
which,  there  was  a  constant  firing  against  the  French  lines, 
and  one  officer  was  killed,  and  fifteen  men  were  killed  or 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  283 

wounded.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  night  it  rained  severely, 
and  being  in  the  open  field,  cold  and  uncomfortable,  I 
entered  a  small  hut  made  of  brush,  which  the  enemy  had 
abandoned.  Soon  after,  a  man  came  to  the  door,  and,  see 
ing  me  standing  in  the  centre,  instantly  drew  his  sword, 
and  put  himself  in  an  attitude  to  plunge  it  into  me.  I 
called  out  friend,  friend,  and  he  as  speedily,  to  my  great 
joy,  responded,  "Ah,  Monsieur,  friend"  and  returning  his 
sword  to  its  place,  he  departed.  I  think  he  was  a  French 
soldier,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  or  myself  was  the 
most  frightened. 

8th  and  $th. — The  duty  of  our  troops  has  been  for  sev 
eral  days  extremely  severe;  our  regiment  labors  in  the 
trenches  every  other  day  and  night,  where  I  find  it  difficult 
to  avoid  suffering  by  the  cold,  having  no  other  covering 
than  a  single  blanket  in  the  open  field.  We  erected  a, 
battery  last  night  in  front  of  our  first  parallel,  without 
ajiy  annoyance  from  the  enemy.  Two  or  three  of  our 
batteries  being  now  prepared  to  open  on  the  town,  his 
Excellency  General  Washington  put  the  match  to  the 
first  gun,  and  a  furious  discharge  of  cannon  and  mortars 
immediately  followed,  and  Earl  Cornwallis  has  received 
his  first  salutation. 

From  the  10th  to  the  loth,  a  tremendous  and  incessant 
firing  from  the  American  and  French  batteries  is  kept  up, 
and  the  enemy  return  the  fire,  but  with  little  effect.  A 
red-hot  shell  from  the  French  battery  set  fire  to  the  Charon, 
a  British  44-gun  ship,  and  two  or  three  smaller  vessels  at 
anchor  in  the  river,  which  were  consumed  in  the  night. 
From  the  bank  of  the  river,  I  had  a  fine  view  of  this 
splendid  conflagration.  The  ships  were  enwrapped  in  a 
torrent  of  fire,  which  spreading  with  vivid  brightness 
among  the  combustible  rigging,  and  running  with  amazing 
rapidity  to  the  tops  of  the  several  masts,  while  all  around 
was  thunder  and  lightning  from  our  numerous  cannon 
and  mortars,  and  in  the  darkness  of  night,  presented  one 
of  the  most  sublime  and  magnificent  spectacles  which  can 
be  imagined.  Some  of  our  shells,  overreaching  the  town, 
are  seen  to  fall  into  the  river,  and  bursting,  throw  up 
columns  of  water  like  the  spouting  of  the  monsters  of  the 
deep.  We  have  now  made  further  approaches  to  the  town, 
by  throwing  up  a  second  parallel  line,  and  batteries  within 
19 


284  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

about  three  hundred  yards;  this  was  effected  in  the  night, 
and  at  day-light  the  enemy  were  roused  to  the  greatest 
exertions;  the  engines  of  war  have  raged  with  redoubled 
fury  and  destruction  on  both  sides,  no  cessation  day  or 
night.  The  French  had  two  officers  wounded,  and  fifteen 
men  killed  or  wounded,  and  among  the  Americans,  two 
or  three  were  wounded.  I  assisted  in  amputating  a  man's 
thigh.  The  siege  is  daily  becoming  more  and  more  formi 
dable  and  alarming,  and  his  lordship  must  view  his  situa 
tion  as  extremely  critical,  if  not  desperate.  Being  in  the 
trenches  every  other  night  and  day,  I  have  a  fine  opportu 
nity  of  witnessing  the  sublime  and  stupendous  scene  which 
is  continually  exhibiting.  The  bomb-shells  from  the  be 
siegers  and  the  besieged  are  incessantly  crossing  each 
others'  path  in  the  air.  They  are  clearly  visible  in  the 
/orm  of  a  black  ball  in  the  day,  but  in  the  night,  they  ap 
pear  like  a  fiery  meteor  with  a  blazing  tail,  most  beauti 
fully  brilliant,  ascending  majestically  from  the  mortar  to 
a  certain  altitude,  and  gradually  descending  to  the  spot 
where  they  are  destined  to  execute  their  work  of  destruc 
tion.  It  is  astonishing  with  what  accuracy  an  experi 
enced  gunner  will  make  his  calculations,  that  a  shell  shall 
fall  within  a  few  feet  of  a  given  point,  and  burst  at  the 
precise  time,  though  at  a  great  distance.  When  a  shell 
falls,  it  whirls  round,  burrows,  and  excavates  the  earth  to 
a  considerable  extent,  and  bursting,  makes  dreadful  havoc 
around,  i  have  more  than  once  witnessed  fragments  of 
the  mangled  bodies  and  limbs  of  the  British  soldiers 
thrown  into  the  air  by  the  bursting  of  our  shells;  and  by 
one  from  the  enemy,  Captain  White,  of  the  seventh  Mas 
sachusetts  regiment,  and  one  soldier  were  killed,  and  an 
other  wounded  near  where  I  was  standing.  About  twelve 
or  fourteen  men  have  been  killed  or  wounded  within 
twenty-four  hours;  I  attended  at  the  hospital,  amputated 
a  man's  arm,  and  assisted  in  dressing  a  number  of  wounds. 
The  enemy  having  two  redoubts,  about  three  hundred 
yards  in  front  of  their  principal  works,  which  enfiladed  our 
intrenchment  and  impeded  our  approaches,  it  was  resolved 
to  take  possession  of  them  both  by  assault.  The  one  on 
the  left  of  the  British  garrison,  bordering  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  was  assigned  to  our  brigade  of  light-infantry, 
under  the  command  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.  The 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1731.  285 

advanced  corps  was  led  on  by  the*intrepid  Colonel  Ham 
ilton,  who  had  commanded  a  regiment  of  light-infantry 
during  the  campaign,  and  assisted  by  Colonel  Gimat.  The 
assault  commenced  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and 
the  assailants  bravely  entered  the  fort  with  the  point  of 
the  bayonet  without  firing  a  single  gun.  We  suffered  the 
loss  of  eight  men  killed,  and  about  thirty  wounded,  among 
whom  Colonel  Gimat  received  a  slight  wound  in  his  foot, 
and  Major  Gibbs,  of  his  excellency's  guard,  and  two  other 
officers,  were  slightly  wounded.  Major  Campbell,  who 
commanded  in  the  fort,  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner, 
with  about  thirty  soldiers,  the  remainder  made  their  escape 
I  was  desired  to  visit  the  wounded  in  the  fort,  even  before 
the  balls  had  ceased  whistling  about  my  ears,  and  saw  a 
sergeant  and  eight  men  dead  in  the  ditch.  A  captain  of 
our  infantry,  belonging  to  New  Hampshire,  threatened  to 
take  the  life  of  Major  Campbell,  to  avenge  the  death  oF 
his  favorite,  Colonel  Scammel;  but  Colonel  Hamilton  in 
terposed,  and  not  a  man  was  killed  after  he  ceased  to 
resist.  During  the  assault, 'the  British  kept  up  an  inces 
sant  firing  of  cannon  and  musketry  from  their  whole  line. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington,  Generals  Lincoln 
and  Knox,  with  their  aids,  having  dismounted,  were 
standing  in  an  exposed  situation  waiting  the  result.  Col 
onel  Cobb,  one  of  General  Washington's  aids,  solicitous 
for  his  safety,  said  to  his  excellency,  uSir,  you  are  too 
much  exposed  here.  Had  you  not  better  step  a  little  back?" 
"Colonel  Cobb,"  replied  his  excellency,  "if  you  are  afraid, 
you  have  liberty  to  step  back."  The  other  redoubt  on  the 
right  of  the  British  lines  was  assaulted  at  the  same  time 
by  a  detachment  of  the  French,  commanded  by  the  gallant 
Baron  de  Yiomenil.  Such  was  the  ardor  displayed  by  the 
assailants,  that  all  resistance  wras  soon  overcome,  though 
at  the  expense  of  nearly  one  hundred  men  killed  and 
wounded.*  Of  the  defenders  of  the  redoubt,  eighteen 

*  The  cause  of  the  great  loss  sustained  by  the  French  troops  in  com 
parison  with  that  of  the  Americans,  in  storming  their  respective  redoubts, 
was  that  the  American  troops  when  they  came  to  the  abatis,  removed  a 
part  of  it  with  their  hands  and  leaped  over  the  remainder.  The  French 
troops  on  coming  up  to  theirs,  waited  till  their  pioneers  had  cut  away 
the  abatis  secundum  artem,  which  exposed  them  longer  to  the  galling  fire 
of  the  enemy.  To  this  cause  also  is  to  be  ascribed  the  circumstance, 
that  the  redoubt  assailed  by  the  Americans,  was  carried  before  that  at- 


286  MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

were  killed,  and  one  ctiptain  and  two  subaltern  officers, 
and  forty-two  rank  and  file  captured.  Our  second  parallel 
line  was  immediately  connected  with  the  two  redoubts 
now  taken  from  the  enemy,  and  some  new  batteries  were 
thrown  up  in  front  of  our  second  parallel  line,  with  a 
covert  way,  and  angling  work  approaching  to  less  than 
three  hundred  yards  of  their  principal  forts.  These  will 
soon  be  mantled  with  cannon  and  mortars,  and  when  their 
horrid  thundering  commences,  it  must  convince  his  lord 
ship  that  his  post  is  not  invincible,  and  that  submission 
must  soon  be  his  only  alternative.  Our  artillery-men,  by 
the  exactness  of  their  aim,  make  every  discharge  take 
effect,  so  that  many  of  the  enemy's  guns  are  entirely  si 
lenced,  and  their  works  are  almost  in  ruins. 

16^/i. — A  party  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  about  four 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  Colonel  Abercrombie,  about 
four  in  the  morning,  made  a  vigorous  sortie  against  two 
unfinished  redoubts  occupied  by  the  French  ;  they  spiked 
up  seven  or  eight  pieces  of  cannon  and  killed  several  sol 
diers,  but  the  French  advanced  and  drove  them  from  the 
redoubts,  leaving  several  killed  and  wounded.  Our  New 
England  troops  have  now  become  very  sickly;  the  preva 
lent  diseases  are  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers,  which  are 
very  prevalent  in  this  climate  during  the  autumnal  months. 

17 th. — The  whole  of  our  works  are  now  mounted  with 
cannon  and  mortars;  not  less  than  one  hundred  pieces  of 
heavy  ordnance  have  been  in  continual  operation  during 
the  last  twenty-four  hours.  The  whole  peninsula  trembles 
under  the  incessant  thunderings  of  our  infernal  machines; 
we  have  leveled  some  of  their  works  in  ruins,  and  silenced 
their  guns;  they  have  almost  ceased  firing.  We  are  so 
near  as  to  have  a  distinct  view  of  the  dreadful  havoc  and 
destruction  of  their  works,  and  even  see  the  men  in  their 
lines  tore  to  pieces  by  the  bursting  of  our  shells.  But  the 
scene  is  drawing  to  a  close.  Lord  Cornwallis,  at  length 
realizing  the  extreme  hazard  of  his  deplorable  situation, 

tacked  by  the  French  troops.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  sent  his  aid, 
Major  Barbour,  through  the  tremendous  fire  of  the  whole  line  of  the 
British,  to  inform  the  Baron  Viomenil,  that  "he  was  in  his  redoubt,  and 
to  ask  the  baron  where  he  was."  The  major  found  the  baron  waiting 
the  clearing  away  the  abatis,  but  sent  this  answer:  "Tell  the  marquis  I 
am  not  in  mine,  but  will  be  in  five  minutes."  He  instantly  advanced, 
and  wus,  or  nearly  so,  within  his  time. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  287 

and  finding  it  in  vain  any  longer  to  resist,  has  this  fore 
noon  come  to  the  humiliating  expedient  of  sending  out  a 
flag,  requesting  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  twenty-four 
hours,  that  commissioners  may  be  appointed  to  prepare 
and  adjust  the  terms  of  capitulation.  Two  or  three  flags 
passed  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  General  Washington 
consented  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  two  hours  only, 
that  his  lordship  may  suggest  his  proposals  as  a  basis  for 
a  treaty,  which  being  in  part  accepted,  a  suspension  of 
hostilities  will  be  continued  till  to-morrow. 

18th. — It  is  now  ascertained  that  Lord  Cornwallis,  to 
avoid  the  necessity  of  a  surrender,  had  determined  on  the 
bold  attempt  to  make  his  escape  in  the  night  of  the  16th, 
with  a  part  of  his  army  into  the  country.  His  plan  was 
to  leave  sick  and  baggage  behind,  and  to  cross  with  his 
effective  force  over  to  Gloucester  Point,  there  to  destroy 
the  French  legion  and  other  troops,  and  to  mount  his  in 
fantry  on  their  horses  and  such  others  as  might  be  pro 
cured,  and  thus  push  their  way  to  New  York  by  land. 
A  more  preposterous  and  desperate  attempt  can  scarcely 
be  imagined.  Boats  were  secretly  prepared,  arrangements 
made,  and  a  large  proportion  of  his  troops  actually  em 
barked  and  landed  on  Gloucester  Point,  when,  from  a  mod 
erate  and  calm  evening,  a  most  violent  storm  of  wind  and 
rain  ensued.  The  boats  with  the  remaining  troops  were 
all  driven  down  the  river,  and  it  was  not  till  the  next  day 
that  his  troops  could  be  returned  to  the  garrison  at  York. 
At  an  early  hour  this  forenoon  General  Washington  com 
municated  to  Lord  Cornwallis  the  general  basis  of  the 
terms  of  capitulation,  which  he  deemed  admissible,  and 
allowed  two  hours  for  his  reply.  Commissioners  were 
soon  after  appointed  to  prepare  the  particular  terms  of 
agreement.  The  gentlemen  appointed  by  General  Wash 
ington  are  Colonel  Laurens,  one  of  his  aid-de-camps,  and 
Viscount  Noaille  of  the  French  army.  They  have  this 
day  held  an  interview  with  the  two  British  officers  on  the 
part  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  the  terms  of  capitulation  are  set 
tled,  and  being  confirmed  by  the  commanders  of  both 
armies,  the  royal  troops  are  to  march  out  to-morrow  and 
surrender  their  arms.  It  is  a  circumstance  deserving  of 
remark,  that  Colonel  Laurens,  who  is  stipulating  for  the 
surrender  of  a  British  nobleman,  at  the  head  of  a  royal 


288  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

army,  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Henry  Lauren s,  our  ambassador 
to  Holland,  who,  being  captured  on  his  voyage,  is  now  in 
close  confinement  in  the  tower  of  London.* 

19^. — This  is  to  us  a  most  glorious  day;  but  to  the 
English,  one  of  bitter  chagrin  and  disappointment.  Pre 
parations  are  now  making  to  receive  as  captives  that  vin 
dictive,  haughty  commander,  and  that  victorious  army, 
who,  by  their  robberies  and  murders,  have  so  long  been  a 
scourge  to  our  brethren  of  the  Southern  states.  Being  on 
horseback,  I  anticipate  a  full  share  of  satisfaction  in  view 
ing  the  various  movements  in  the  interesting  scene.  The 
stipulated  terms  of  capitulation  are  similaf  to  those  granted 
to  General  Lincoln  at  Charleston  the  last  year.  The  cap 
tive  troops  are  to  march  out  with  shouldered  arms,  colors 
cased,  and  drums  beating  a  British  or  German  march,  and 
to  ground  their  arms  at  a  place  assigned  for  the  purpose. 
The  officers  are  allowed  their  side-arms  and  private  prop 
erty,  and  the  generals  and  such  officers  as  desire  it  are  to 
go  on  parole  to  England  or  New  York.  The  marines  and 
seamen  of  the  king's  ships  are  prisoners  of  war  to  the  navy 
of  France;  and  the  land  forces  to  the  United  States.  All 
military  and  artillery  stores  to  be  delivered  up  unimpaired. 
The  royal  prisoners  to  be  sent  into  the  interior  of  Virginia, 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  in  regiments,  to  have  rations 
allowed  them  equal  to  the  American  soldiers,  and  to  have 
their  officers  near  them.  Lord  Cornwallis  to  man  and 
despatch  the  Bonetta  sloop-of-war  with  despatches  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  at  New  York  without  being  searched,  the 
vessel  to  be  returned  and  the  hands  accounted  for.  At 
about  twelve  o'clock,  the  combined  army  was  arranged 
and  drawn  up  in  two  lines  extending  more  than  a  mile  in 

*  Connected  with  this  transaction  there  is  a  concurrence  of  circum 
stances  so  peculiarly  remarkable,  that  I  cannot  omit  to  notice  them  in 
this  place.  Mr.  Henry  Laurens,  who  was  deputed  by  Congress  as  our 
ambassador  to  Holland,  was  captured  arid  carried  into  England,  and 
closely  and  most  rigorously  confined  in  the  tower  of  London.  Lord 
Cornwallis  sustains  the  office  of  constable  to  the  tower;  of  course  Mr. 
Laurens  is  his  prisoner.  The  son,  Colonel  John  Laurens,  stipulates  the 
conditions  of  the  surrender  of  the  constable,  who  becomes  our  prisoner, 
while  Mr.  Laurens,  the  father,  remains  confined  in  the  tower  as  a  pri 
soner  to  the  captured  constable.  Congress  had  proposed  that  Mr.  Laurens 
should  be  received  in  exchange  for  General  Burgoyne,  but  the  proposal 
was  rejected  by  the  British  government.  After  Cornwallis  was  cap 
tured,  however,  he  was  readily  received  in  exchange  for  Mr.  Laurens. 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1781.  289 

length.  The  Americans  were  drawn  up  in  a  line  on  the 
right  side  of  the  road,  and  the  French  occupied  the  left. 
At  the  head  of  the  former,  the  great  American  commander, 
mounted  on  his  noble  courser,  took  his  station,  attended 
by  his  aids.  At  the  head  of  the  latter  was  posted  the  ex 
cellent  Count  Rochambeau  and  his  suite.  The  French 
troops,  in  complete  uniform,  displayed  a  martial  and  noble 
appearance,  their  band  of  music,  of  which  the  timbrel 
formed  a  part,  is  a  delightful  novelty,  and  produced  while 
marching  to  the  ground  a  most  enchanting  effect.  The 
Americans,  though  not  all  in  uniform,  nor  their  dress  so 
neat,  yet  exhibited  an  erect,  soldierly  air,  and  every  coun 
tenance  beamed  with  satisfaction  and  joy.  The  concourse 
of  spectators  from  the  country  was  prodigious,  in  point 
of  numbers  was  probably  equal  to  the  military,  but  uni 
versal  silence  and  order  prevailed,  ft  was  about  two 
o'clock  when  the  captive  army  advanced  through  the 
line  formed  for  their  reception.  Every  eye  was  prepared 
to  gaze  on  Lord  Cornwallis,  the  object  of  peculiar  interest 
and  solicitude;  but  he  disappointed  our  anxious  expecta 
tions;  pretending  indisposition,  he  made  General  O'Hara 
his  substitute  as  the  leader  of  his  army.  This  officer  was 
followed  by  the  conquered  tpoops  in  a  slow  and  solemn 
step,  with  shouldered  arms,  colors  cased,  and  drums  beat 
ing  a  British  march.  Having  arrived  at  the  head  of  the 
line,  General  O'Hara,  elegantly  mounted,  advanced  to 
his  excellency  the  commander-in-chief,  taking  off  his  hat, 
and  apologized  for  the  non-appearance  of  Earl  Cornwallis. 
With  his  usual  dignity  and  politeness,  his  excellency 
pointed  to  Major-General  Lincoln  for  directions,  by  whom 
the  British  army  was  conducted  into  a  spacious  field,  where 
it  was  intended  they  should  ground  their  arms.  The 
royal  troops,  while  marching  through  the  line  formed  by 
the  allied  army,  exhibited  a  decent  and  neat  appearance, 
as  respects  arms  and  clothing,  for  their  commander  opened 
his  store,  and  directed  every  soldier  to  be  furnished  with 
a  new  suit  complete,  prior  to  the  capitulation.  But  in 
their  line  of  march  we  remarked  a  disorderly  and  unsol- 
dierly  conduct,  their  step  was  irregular,  and  their  ranks 
frequently  broken.  But  it  was  in  the  field,  when  they 
came  to  the  last  act  of  the  drama,  that  the  spirit  and  pride 
of  the  British  soldier  was  but  to  the  severest  test:  here 


290  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

their  mortification  could  not  be  concealed.  Some  of  the 
platoon  officers  appeared  to  be  exceedingly  chagrined 
when  giving  the  word  "ground  arms"  and  I  am  a  witness 
that  they  performed  this  duty  in  a  very  unofficer-like 
manner;  and  that  many  of  the  soldiers  manifested  a  sullen 
temper,  throwing  their  arms  on  the  pile  with  violence,  as 
if  determined  to  render  them  useless.  This  irregularity, 
however,  was  checked  by  the  authority  of  General  Lin 
coln.  After  having  grounded  their  arms  and  divested 
themselves  of  their  accoutrements,  the  captive  troops  were 
conducted  back  to  Yorktovvn,  and  guarded  by  our  troops 
till  they  could  be  removed  to  the  place  of  their  destina 
tion.  The  British  troops  that  were  stationed  at  Gloucester, 
surrendered  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner,  to 
the  command  of  the  Duke  de  Luzerne.  This  must  be  a 
very  interesting  and  gratifying  transaction  to  General  Lin 
coln,  who,  having  himself  been  obliged  to  surrender  an 
army  to  a  haughty  foe  the  last  year,  has  now  assigned  him 
the  pleasing  duty  of  giving  laws  to  a  conquered  army  in 
return,  and  of  reflecting  that  the  terms  which  were  im 
posed  on  him  are  adopted  as  a  basis  of  the  surrender  in 
the  present  instance.  It  is  a  very  gratifying  circumstance 
that  every  degree  of  harmony,  confidence  and  friendly 
intercourse  subsisted  between  the  American  and  French 
troops  during  the  campaign — no  contest,  except  an  emulous 
spirit  to  excel  in  exploits  and  enterprise  against  the  com 
mon  enemy,  and  a  desire  to  be  celebrated  in  the  annals  of 
history  for  an  ardent  love  of  great  and  heroic  actions. 
We  are  not  to  be  surprised  that  the  pride  of  the  British 
officers  is  humbled  on  this  occasion,  as  they  have  always 
entertained  an  exalted  opinion  of  their  own  military 
prowess,  and  affected  to  view  the  Americans  as  a  con 
temptible,  undisciplined  rabble.  But  there  is  no  display 
of  magnanimity  when  a  great  commander  shrinks  from 
the  inevitable  misfortunes  of  war;  and  when  it  is  consid 
ered  that  Lord  Cornwallis  has  frequently  appeared  in 
splendid  triumph  at  the  head  of  his  army,  by  which  he  is 
almost  adored,  we  conceive  it  incumbent  on  him  cheerfully 
to  participate  in  their  misfortunes  and  degradations,  how 
ever  humiliating;  but  it  is  said  he  gives  himself  up  en 
tirely  to  vexation  and  despair. 
20th. — In  the  general  orders  of  this  day  our  commander- 


Til  ADDK  TS    KOSC1USKO. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1731 


291 


in-chief  expresses  his  entire  approbation,  and  his  warmest 
thanks  to  the  French  and  American  officers  and  soldiers 
of  all  descriptions,  for  the  brave  and  honorable  part  which 
they  have  acted  during  the  siege.  He  congratulates  the 
combined  army  on  the  momentous  event  which  closes  the 
campaign,  and  which  crowns  their  heads  with  unfading 
laurels,  and  entitles  them  to  the  applause  and  gratitude  of 
their  country.  Among  the  general  officers  whom  his  ex 
cellency  particularly  noticed,  for  the  important  services 
which  they  rendered  during  the  siege,  are  Generals  Lin 
coln,  De  la  Fayette,  Steuben,  Knox,  and  Du  Portail,  his 
Excellency  Count  Rochambeau,  and  several  other  distin 
guished  French  officers.  To  Governor  Nelson,  of  Virginia, 
he  returned  his  grateful  and  sincere  acknowledgments  for 
the  essential  succors  afforded  by  him  and  the  militia  under 
his  command.  The  commander-in-chief,  wishing  that 
every  heart  should  participate  in  the  joy  of  this  memora 
ble  day,  ordered  that  all  those  who  are  under  arrest  or 
confinement  should  be  immediately  pardoned  and  set  at 
liberty,  a  circumstance  which  I  believe  has  never  before 
occurred  in  our  army.  He  closed  by  ordering  that  divine 
service  shall  be  performed  in  the  several  brigades  to-mor 
row,  and  recommends  that  the  troops  attend  with  a  serious 
deportment,  and  with  that  sensibility  of  heart  which  the 
recollection  of  the  surprising  and  particular  interposition 
of  Providence  in  our  favor  claims. 

22d.- — Yesterday  being  Sunday,  our  brigade  of  infantry 
and  the  York  brigade  were  drawn  up  in  the  field  to  attend 
divine  service,  performed  by  Mr.  Evans.  After  offering  to 
the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  battles,  our  grateful  homage 
for  the  preservation  of  our  lives  through  the  dangers  of 
the  siege,  and  for  the  important  event  with  which  Divine 
Providence  has  seen  fit  to  crown  our  efforts,  he  preached 
an  excellent  and  appropriate  sermon.  Generals  Lincoln 
and  Clinton  were  present.  In  the  design  and  execution 
of  this  successful  expedition,  our  commander-in-chief  fairly 
out-generaled  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  the  whole  movement 
was  marked  by  consummate  military  address,  which  re 
duced  the  royal  general  to  a  mortifying  dilemma  that  no 
skill  or  enterprise  could  retrieve.  A  siege  of  thirteen  days, 
prosecuted  with  unexampled  rapidity,  has  terminated  in 
the  capture  of  one  of  the  greatest  generals  of  which  the 


292  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

English  can  boast,  and  a  veteran  and  victorious  army  which 
has  for  several  months  past  spread  terror  and  desolation 
throughout  the  Southern  states.  The  joy  on  this  moment 
ous  occasion  is  universally  diffused,  and  the  hope  enter 
tained  that  it  will  arrest  the  career  of  a  cruel  warfare,  and 
advance  the  establishment  of  American  Independence.  In 
the  progress  of  the  royal  army  through  the  state  of  Virgi 
nia  the  preceding  summer,  they  practised  the  most  abom 
inable  enormities,  plundering  negroes  and  horses  from 
almost  every  plantation,  and  reducing  the  country  to  ruin. 
Among  the  prodigious  assemblage  of  spectators  at  the 
time  of  surrender,  were  a  number  of  planters,  searching 
for  the  property  which  had  been  thus  purloined  from  their 
estates.  The  famous  Colonel  Tarleton,  mounted  on  a  horse 
remarkable  for  elegance  and  noble  appearance,  while  riding 
in  company  with  several  French  officers  with  whom  he 
was  to  dine,  was  met  by  a  gentleman,  who  instantly  re 
cognized  the  animal  as  his  own  property.  Tarleton  was 
stopped,  and  the  horse  peremptorily  demanded ;  observing 
a  little  hesitation,  the  British  General  O'Harra,  who  was 
present,  said,  "You  had  better  give  him  his  horse,  Tarle 
ton  ;"  on  which  the  colonel  dismounted,  and  delivered  the 
horse  to  the  original  proprietor;  after  which,  being  re 
mounted  on  a  very  miserable  animal,  he  rejoined  his  com 
pany,  and  the  French  officers  were  greatly  surprised  that 
he  should  be  so  humbly  mounted.  The  British  prisoners 
were  all  sent  off  yesterday,  conducted  by  a  party  of  militia 
on  their  way  to  the  interior  of  Virginia  and  Maryland. 
I  have  this  day  visited  the  town  of  York,  to  witness  the 
destructive  effects  of  the  siege.  It  contains  about  sixty 
houses;  some  of  them  are  elegant,  many  of  them  are 
greatly  damaged  and  some  totally  ruined,  being  shot 
through  in  a  thousand  places  and  honey-combed  ready  to 
crumble  to  pieces.  Rich  furniture  and  books  were  scat 
tered  over  the  ground,  and  the  carcases  of  men  and  horses 
half-covered  with  earth,  exhibited  a  scene  of  ruin  and 
horror  beyond  description.  The  earth  in  many  places  is 
thrown  up  into  mounds  by  the  force  of  our  shells,  and  it 
is  difficult  to  point  to  a  spot  where  a  man  could  have 
resorted  for  safety. 

The  loss  on  the  part  of  the  French  during  the  siege  was 
fifty  killed  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  wounded. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1781.  293 

Americans  twenty-seven  killed  and  seventy-three  wounded, 
officers  included.  Cornwallis'  account  of  his  loss  during 
the  siege  is  one  hundred  and  fifty-six,  three  hundred 
and  twenty-six  wounded,  and  seventy  missing,  probably 
>  deserted,  total  five  hundred  and  fifty-two.  The  whole 
number  surrendered  *by  capitulation,  seven  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty-seven.*  The  amount  of  artillery  and 
military  stores,  provisions,  &c.,  is  very  considerable,  sev 
enty-five  brass  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  iron  can 
non,  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  ninety-four  muskets; 
regimental  standards,  German  eighteen,  British  ten.  From 
the  military  chest  we  received  two  thousand  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  pounds  six  shillings  sterling. 

Lord  Cornwallis  is  a  very  distinguished  warrior;  he 
possesses  an  exalted  spirit,  is  brave  and  intrepid,  and 
never  was  there  a  more  zealous  champion  of  his  tyrannical 
master;  austere  and  rigorous  in  his  temper,  nothing  could 
be  more  foreign  from  his  heart  than  the  sympathies  of 
benevolence  or  generous  compassion.  Had  all  the  rebels 
in  the  states  but  one  neck,  his  lordship  would  glory  in 
nothing  more  than  an  opportunity  of  severing  the  jugular 
vein.  But  Cornwallis  has  fallen!  and  our  country  is  not 
subj  n  gated,  f 

It  is  proper  I  should  take  a  retrospect  of  some  events 
which  have  marked  the  conduct  of  the  war  of  extermina 
tion  in  the  Southern  states.  A  singular  kind  of  ferocious 
animosity  has  subsisted  between  the  two  contending  par 
ties,  as  may  be  seen  by  letters  from  General  Greene  on 

*  Another  list,  which  has  been  published,  makes  their  total  loss  by 
death  and  capture  to  be  eleven  thousand  eight  hundred,  including  two 
thousand  sailors,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  negroes,  one  thousand  five 
hundred  tories,  eighty  vessels,  large  and  small. 

f  It  is  asserted  in  Gordon's  History  of  the  War,  that  wherever  the  army 
of  Lord  Cornwallis  marched,  the  dwelling-houses  were  plundered  of 
every  thing  that  could  be  carried  off.  Hundreds  of  eye-witnesses  can 
prove  that  his  lordship's  table  was  served  with  plate  thus  pillaged  from 
private  families.  By  an  estimate  made  at  the  time,  on  the  best  informa 
tion  that  could  be  collected,  the  state  of  Virginia  lost  during  Cornwallis' 
attempts  to  reduce  it,  thirty  thousand  slaves.  And  it  has  been  com 
puted  that  one  thousand  four  hundred  widows  were  made  by  the  ravaging 
hand  of  war  in  the  single  district  of  Ninety-Six.  The  whole  devasta 
tions  occasioned  by  the  British  army,  during  the  six  months  previous  to 
their  surrender  at  Yorktown,  are  supposed  to  amount  to  about  three 
millions  sterling. 


294  MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1781. 

the  subject.  "The  animosity,"  says  this  amiable  man, 
"between  the  whigs  and  tories  of  this  state  renders  their 
situation  truly  deplorable.  Not  a  day  passes  but  there 
are  more  or  less  who  fall  a  sacrifice  to  this  savage  disposi 
tion.  The  whigs  seem  determined  to  extirpate  the  tories,  • 
and  the  tories  the  whigs.  Some  thousands  have  fallen  in 
this  way  in  this  quarter,  and  the  evil  rages  with  more 
violence  than  ever.  If  a  stop  cannot  be  soon  put  to  these 
massacres,  the  country  will  be  depopulated  in  a  few  months 
more,  as  neither  whig  nor  tory  can  live."  Speaking  of  a 
certain  party  on  our  side,  he  says:  "This  party  plunders 
without  mercy,  and  murders  the  defenceless  people  just 
as  private  pique,  prejudice  or  personal  resentments  dic 
tate.  Principles  of  humanity,  as  well  as  policy,  require 
that  proper  measures  should  be  immediately  taken  to  re 
strain  these  abuses,  heal  differences,  and  unite  the  people 
as  much  as  possible.  No  violence  should  be  offered  to 
any  of  the  inhabitants  unless  found  in  arms.  The  idea  of 
exterminating  the  tories  is  no  less  barbarous  than  im 
politic."  Such  is  the  infernal  spirit  of  revenge  and  bitter 
ness  which  has  caused  mutual  destruction  and  wretchedness 
among  the  people.  But,  however  atrocious  may  have 
been  the  conduct  of  some  unauthorized  partizans  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  the  following  instance  of  inhuman 
ity,  in  the  sacrifice  of  one  of  the  victims  of  their  malicious 
resentment,  is  sufficient  to  stigmatize  the  British  character 
with  eternal  infamy.  Lord  Rawdon  and  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Balfour  have  perpetrated  an  act  which,  in  all  its 
distressing  circumstances,  surpasses  in  enormity  and  wick 
edness  all  others  which  have  come  to  6*ur  knowledge,  and 
which  has  roused  the  indignant  spirit  of  every  true  Amer 
ican  to  a  pitch  of  desperation.  "Colonel  Isaac  Hayne, 
during  the  siege  of  Charleston,  served  his  country  as  an 
officer  of  militia.  After  the  capitulation,  no  alternative 
was  left  but  to  abandon  his  family  and  property,  or  to 
surrender  to  the  conquerors.  The  small-pox  was  near  his 
plantation,  and  he  had  a  wife,  six  small  children,  and  more 
than  one  hundred  negroes,  all  liable  to  the  disease.  He 
concluded  that,  instead  of  waiting  to  be  captured,  it  would 
be  both  more  safe  and  more  honorable  to  go  within  the 
British  lines,  and  surrender  himself  a  voluntary  prisoner. 
He  therefore  repaired  to  Charleston,  and  offered  to  bind 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  295 

himself  by  the  honor  of  an  American  officer  to  do  nothing 
prejudicial  to  the  British  interest  till  he  should  be  ex 
changed.  Keports  made  of  his  superior  abilities  and  influ 
ence,  uniformly  exerted  in  the  American  cause,  operated 
with  the  conquerors  to  refuse  hirn  a  parole,  though  they 
were  daily  accustomed  to  grant  this  indulgence  to  other 
inhabitants.  He  was  told  that  he  must  either  become  a 
British  subject,  or  submit  to  close  confinement.  To  be 
arrested  and  detained  in  the  capital,  was  not  to  himself  an 
intolerable  evil;  but  to  abandon  his  family,  both  to  the 
ravages  of  the  small-pox  then  raging  in  their  neighbor 
hood,  and  to  the  insults  and  depredations  of  the  royalists, 
was  too  much  for  the  tender  husband  and  fond  parent. 
To  acknowledge  himself  the  subject  of  a  government 
which  he  had  from  principle  renounced,  was  repugnant  to 
his  feelings;  but,  without  this,  he  was  cut  off  from  every 
prospect  of  a  return  to  his  family.  In  this  embarrassing 
situation,  he  waited  on  Dr.  Ramsay,  with  a  declaration  to 
the  following  effect:  "If  the  British  would  grant  me  the 
indulgence  which  we  in  the  day  of  our  power  gave  to  their 
adherents,  of  removing  my  family  and  property,  1  would 
seek  an  asylum  in  the  remotest  corner  of  the  United 
States,  rather  than  submit  to  their  government;  but,  as 
they  allow  no  other  alternative  than  submission  or  con 
finement  in  the  capital,  at  a  distance  from  my  wife  and 
family,  at  a  time  when  they  are  in  the  most  pressing  need 
of  my  presence  and  support,  I  must  for  the  present  yield 
to  the  demands  of  the  conquerors.  I  request  you  to  bear 
in  mind,  that  previous  to  my  taking  this  step,  I  declare 
that  it  is  contrary  to  my  inclination,  and  forced  on  me  by 
hard  necessity.  I  never  will  bear  arms  against  my  coun 
try.  My  new  masters  can  require  no  service  of  me  but 
what  is  enjoined  by  the  old  rnilitia  law  of  the  province, 
which  substitutes  a  fine  in  lieu  of  personal  service.  This 
I  will  pay  as  the  price  of  my  protection.  If  my  conduct 
should  be  censured  by  my  countrymen,  I  beg  that  you 
would  remember  this  conversation,  and  bear  witness  for 
me,  that  I  do  not  mean  to  desert  the  cause  of  America." 

In  this  state  of  perplexity,  Colonel  Hayne  subscribed  a 
declaration  of  his  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain; 
but  not  without  expressly  objecting  to  the  clause  which 
required  him  with  his  arms  to  support  the  royal  government* 


296  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

The  commandant  of  the  garrison,  Brigadier-General  Pat 
terson,  and  James  Simpson,  Esquire,  intendant  of  the  Brit 
ish  police,  assured  him  that  this  would  never  be  required; 
and  added,  further,  that  when  the  regular  forces  could  not 
defend  the  country  without  the  aid  of  its  inhabitants,  it 
would  be  high  time  for  the  royal  army  to  quit  it.  Having 
submitted  to  the  royal  government,  he  was  permitted  to 
return  to  his  family.  Notwithstanding  what  had  passed 
at  the  time  of  his  submission,  he  was  repeatedly  called  on 
to  take  arms  against  his  countrymen,  arid  finally  threatened 
with  close  confinement  in  case  of  a  further  refusal.  This 
he  considered  as  a  breach  of  contract,  and  it  being  no 
longer  in  the  power  of  the  British  to  give  him  that  pro 
tection  which  was  to  be  the  compensation  of* his  allegiance, 
he  viewed  himself  as  released  from  all  engagements  to 
their  commanders.  The  inhabitants  of  his  neighborhood, 
who  had  also  revolted,  petitioned  General  Pickens  to  ap 
point  him  to  the  command  of  their  regiment,  which  was 
done,  and  the  appointment  accepted.  Hayne  fell  into 
their  hands.  He  was  carried  to  the  capital,  and  confined 
in  the  provost  prison,  for  having  resumed  his  arms  after 
accepting  British  protection.  At  first  he  was  promised  a 
trial,  and  had  counsel  prepared  to  justify  his  conduct  by 
the  laws  of  nations  and  usages  of  war;  but  this  was  finally 
refused,  and  he  was  ordered  for  execution  by  Lord  Raw- 
don  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Balfour.  The  royal  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  Bull,  and  a  great  number  of  inhabitants, 
both  royalists  and  Americans,  interceded  for  his  life.  The 
ladies  of  Charleston  generally  signed  a  petition  in  his  be 
half,  in  which  was  introduced  every  delicate  sentiment 
that  was  likely  to  operate  on  the  gallantry  of  officers  or 
the  humanity  of  men.  His  children,  accompanied  by  some 
near  relations,  (the  mother  had  died  of  the  small-pox,) 
were  presented  on  their  bended  knees  as  humble  suitors 
for  their  father's  life.  Such  powerful  intercessions  were 
made  in  his  favor,  as  touched  many  an  unfeeling  heart, 
and  drew  tears  from  many  a  hard  eye;  but  Lord  Kawdon 
and  Balfour  continued  firm  in  their  determination. 

The  colonel  was  repeatedly  visited  by  his  friends,  and 
conversed  on  various  subjects  with  a  becoming  fortitude. 
He  particularly  lamented  that,  on  principles  of  retaliation, 


MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1781.  297 

his  execution  would  probably  be  an  introduction  to  the 
shedding  of  much  innocent  blood.  He  requested  those 
in  whom  the  supreme  power  was  vested,  to  accommodate 
the  mode  of  his  death  to  his  feelings  as  an  officer;  but 
this  was  refused.  On  the  last  evening  of  his  life  he  told 
a  friend  that  he  was  no  more  alarmed  at  the  thoughts  of 
death,  than  at  any  other  occurrence  which  was  necessary 
and  unavoidable. 

On  receiving  his  summons,  on  the  morning  of  August 
the  4th,  to  proceed  to  the  place  of  execution,  he  delivered 
to  his  eldest  son,  a  youth  of  about  thirteen  years  of  ^e, 
several  papers  relative  to  his  case,  and  said:  "Present 
these  papers  to  Mrs.  Edwards,  with  my  request  that  she 
should  forward  them  to  her  brother  in  Congress.  You 
will  next  repair  to  the  place  of  execution,  receive  my 
body,  and  see  it  decently  interred  among  my  forefathers." 
They  took  a  final  leave.  The  colonel's  arms  were  pin 
ioned,  and  a  guard  placed  round  his  person.  The  proces 
sion  began  from  the  Exchange  in  the  forenoon.  The  streets 
were  crowded  with  thousands  of  anxious  spectators.  lie 
walked  to  the  place  of  execution  with  such  decent  firm 
ness,  composure  and  dignity,  as  to  awaken  the  compassion 
of  many,  and  command  respect  from  all.  When  the  city- 
barrier  was  passed,  and  the  instrument  of  his  catastrophe 
appeared  in  full  view,  a  faithful  friend  by  his  side  ob 
served  to  him,  that  he  hoped  he  would  exhibit  an  example 
of  the  manner  in  which  an  American  can  die.  He  an 
swered,  with  the  utmost  tranquillity,  "I  will  endeavor  to 
do  so."  He  ascended  the  cart  with  a  firm  step  and  serene 
aspect.  He  inquired  of  the  executioner,  who  was  making 
an  attempt  to  get  up  to  pull  the  cap  over  his  eyes,  what 
he  wanted.  On  being  informed,  the  colonel  replied,  "I 
will  save  you  the  trouble,"  and  pulled  the  cap  over  him 
self.  He  was  afterwards  asked  whether  he  wished  to  say 
any  thing,  to  which  he  answered,  "I  will  only  take  leave 
of  my  friends,  and  be  ready."  He  then  affectionately  shook 
hands  with  three  gentlemen,  recommending  his  children, 
to  their  care,  and  gave  the  signal  for  the  cart  to  move. 

Thus  fell  Colonel  Isaac  Hayne  in  the  bloom  of  life,  fur 
nishing  that  example  in  death,  which  extorted  a  confession 
from  his  enemies,  that  though  he  did  not  die  in  a  good 


298  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1731. 

cause,  he  must  at  least  have  acted  from  a  persuasion  of 
its  being  so.* 

The  execution  of  the  worthy  Colonel  Hayne  is  univer 
sally  reprobated  as  an  act  of  barbarity,  justified  neither  by 
civil  nor  military  law,  and  as  an  unexampled  outrage  on 
the  principles  of  morality  and  Christian  benevolence;  but 
in  the  view  of  the  British  commanders,  the  application  of 
their  hackneyed  term,  rebel,  sanctions  a  departure  from  all 
laws,  both  human  and  divine.  In  August,  1780,  Lord 
Corn  wall  is,  in  addressing  one  of  his  officers,  says:  "I  have 
given  orders  that  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  province  who 

*  The  tragical  story  of  Colonel  Hayne  is  not  complete  without  add 
ing,  from  u  recent  publication  by  Alexander  Garden,  Esq.,  the  following 
particulars:  "Irregularities  in  the  mode  of  conducting  the  war,  in  the 
highest  degree  disgraceful  to  the  American  cause,  had  frequently  oc 
curred.  No  man  lamented  them  with  greater  sincerity  than  Colonel 
Hayne,  for  none  more  anxiously  wished  the  American  character  to  be 
free  from  reproach.  JSoon,  then,  as  solicited  by  his  neighbors,  and  the 
inhabitants  generally  of  the  district,  to  resume  a  hostile  position,  to  be 
come  their  leader,  and  direct  their  operations  against  the  enemy,  he 
made  an  honorable  and  open  declaration:  'that  he  could  only  be  in 
duced  to  comply  with  their  wishes,  by  obtaining  a  solemn  promise  from 
all  who  were  to  serve  under  him,  that  an  immediate  stop  should  be  put 
to  every  unnecessary  severity:  a  desideratum  the  more  to  be  insisted 
on,  as  he  was  resolved  that  exemplary  punishment  should  be  inflicted  on 
every  individual  who  should  indulge  in  pillage,  or  in  committing  any 
act  of  inhumanity  against  the  foe.'  A  copy  of  the  address  made  to  his 
soldiers  on  this  occasion  was  found  on  him  at  the  period  of  his  captivity; 
but  though  it  forcibly  expressed  his  abhorrence  of  crime,  and  was  replete 
with  sentiments  that  did  honor  to  his  humanity,  it  availed  not  to  soften 
the  rigor  of  persecution,  nor  in  the  slightest  degree  to  mitigate  the 
severity  of  the  punishment  denounced  against  him.  When  the  paper 
which  contained  this  honorable  testimony  of  generous  feeling  was  pre 
sented  to  Major  McKenzie,  who  sat  as  president  of  the  tribunal  before 
which  Colonel  Hayne  was  arraigned,  he,  with  great  expression  of  sensi 
bility,  requested  the  prisoner  'to  retain  it  till  he  should  be  brought 
before  the  court-martial  that  was  to  determine  his  fate,'  assuring  him 
•that  the  present  court  were  only  directed  to  inquire  whether  or  not  he 
acknowledged  himself  to  be  the  individual  who  had  taken  protection.' 
It  is  unnecessary  to  add,  that  this  trial  was  never  granted.  Lord  Raw- 
don  reached  the  city  from  the  interior  country,  and  at  his  command  an 
order  for  immediate  execution  was  issued.  Little  did  the  sympathy  that 
melted  every  heart  to  tenderness — little  did  the  pathetic  address  of  the 
lovely  daughters  of  the  soil,  calculated  to  move  even  the  bosom  of  ob 
duracy — avail.  Heedless  of  the  prayers  and  solicitations  of  the  afflicted 
friends  and  relatives,  deaf  to  the  cries  of  his  children,  who,  even  with 
bended  knees  interceded  for  mercy,  insensible  to  the  dictates  of  human 
ity,  his  resolution  was  fixed  as  adamant,  and  a  hero  was  sacrificed." 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  299 

had  submitted,  and  who  have  taken  part  in  its  revolt,  shall 
be  punished  with  the  greatest  rigor;  that  they  shall  be 
imprisoned,  and  their  whole  property  taken  from  them  or 
destroyed.  I  have  ordered,  in  the  most  positive  manner, 
that  every  militia-man  who  had  borne  arms  with  us,  and 
afterwards  joined  the  enemy,  shall  be  immediately  hanged; 
and  have  now,  sir,  only  to  desire  that  you  will  take  the 
most  vigorous  measures  to  extinguish  the  rebellion,  and 
that  you  will  obey,  in  the  strictest  manner,  the  directions 
given  in  this  letter."  It  is  on  the  authority  of  the  order 
just  quoted  that  Lord  Ravvdon  and  Colonel  Balfour  justify 
their  cruel  execution  of  Colonel  Hayne,  and  it  will  be 
difficult  to  calculate  the  number  of  miserable  wretches 
who  have  fallen  sacrifices  to  the  same  relentless  spirit; 
nor  are  the  mandates  of  Lord  Rawdon  less  sanguinary,  as 
will  appear  by  the  following  specimen : 

Extract  of  a  letter  to  Colonel  Rugely,  commanding  the  British  militia, 
near  Camden. 

"If  attachment  to  their  sovereign  will  not  move  the  country  people  to 
check  a  crime  so  disastrous  to  the  service,  desertion,  it  must  be  my  care 
to  urge  (hem  to  their  duty,  as  good  subjects,  by  using  invariable  severity 
against  every  one  who  shall  show  so  criminal  a  neglect  of  the  public  in 
terest.  If  any  person  meet  a  soldier,  straggling  without  a  written  pass 
beyond  the  piquets,  and  shall  not  do  his  utmost  to  secure  him,  or  shall 
not  spread  an  alarm  for  this  purpose,  or  if  any  person  shall  give  shelter 
to  soldiers  struggling  as  above  mentioned,  or  shall  serve  them  as  a 
guide,  or  shall  furnish  them  with  passes,  or  any  other  assistance,  the 
persons  so  offending  may  assure  themselves  of  rigorous  punishment,  as 
by  whipping,  imprisonment,  or  by  being  sent  to  serve  in  the  West  Indies, 
according  as  /shall  think  the  degree  of  criminality  may  require;  for  I 
have  ordered  that  every  soldier  who  passes  the  piquet,  shall  submit  him 
self  to  be  examined,  by  any  militia-man  who  has  a  suspicion  of  him.  If 
a  soldier,  therefore,  attempts  to  escape,  when  ordered  by  a  militia-man 
to  stop,  he  is  immediately  to  be  fired  on  as  a  deserter.  I  will  give  ten 
guineas  fur  the  head  of  any  deserter  belonging  to  the  volunteers  of  Ire- 
Land,  and  Jive  guineas  only  if  he  be  brought  alive." 

But  the  strong  measures  which  they  pursued  to  crush 
the  rebellion  has  produced  a  contrary  effect,  and  lighted  a 
flame  which  rages  with  tenfold  violence,  and  which  will 
eventual ly^ffbrd  an  essential  aid  in  the  establishment  of 
our  Independence. 

For  some  months  previous  to  the  capture  of  Cornwallis, 
and  while  his  army  was  traversing  the  states  of  the  Caro- 
linas  and  Virginia,  he  was  opposed  by  the  Marquis  de  la 
20 


300  MILITAKY  JOURN4L,  1781 

Fayette  with  an  inferior  force.  His  lordship  having  re 
ceived  a  reinforcement,  was  so  confident  of  success  against 
his  opponent,  that  he  unguardedly  wrote,  in  a  letter  which 
was  afterwards  intercepted,  "the  boy  cannot  escape  me," 
but*he  was  disappointed  in  his  sanguine  expectations. 
Cornwallis  at  one  time  formed  a  plan  to  surprise  the  mar 
quis  while  on  the  same  side  of  James  river  with  himself, 
but  the  attempt  was  prevented  by  the  following  incident: 
The  marquis,  unapprised  of  the  particular  situation  of  his 
opponent,  contrived  to  send  into  his  camp  a'spy  to  obtain 
intelligence.  A  soldier  belonging  to  New  Jersey,  by  the 
name  of  Charles  Morgan,  generally  called  Charley,  agreed 
to  undertake  this  hazardous  service;  but  insisted  that,  in 
case  he  should  be  discovered  and  hanged,  the  marquis,  to 
secure  his  reputation,  should  have  it  inserted  in  the  New 
Jersey  paper,  that  he  was  employed  in  the  service  of  his 
commander.  Having  reached  the  royal  camp,  he  was  soon 
introduced  into  his  lordship's  presence,  who  inquired  the 
reason  of  his  deserting.  Charley  replied,  "that  he  had 
been  in  the  continental  service  from  the  beginning,  and 
while  under  Washington  he  was  well  satisfied;  but  being 
now  commanded  by  a  Frenchman,  he  was  displeased  with 
it,  and  had  quitted  the  service."  His  lordship  commended 
and  rewarded  him  for  his  conduct,  and  Charley  soon  com 
menced  the  double  duty  of  soldier  under  the  English 
commander,  and  a  spy  in  the  employment  of  the  marquis, 
without  suspicion.  Lord  Cornwallis,  while  in  conversa 
tion  with  several  of  his  officers,  inquired  of  Charley  how 
long  a  time  it  would  take  for  the  marquis  to  cross  James 
river?  Pausing  a  moment,  he  replied,  "Three  hours,  my 
lord."  His  lordship  exclaimed,  "Three  hours!  it  will  take 
three  days."  "No,  my  lord,"  said  Charley;  "the  marquis 
has  such  a  number  of  boats,  and  each  boat  will  carry  so 
many  men;  if  you  will  please  to  calculate,  you  will  find 
he  can  pass  in  three  hours."  His  lordship,  turning  to  the 
officers,  said,  "The  scheme  will  not  do."  After  having 
obtained  the  information  required,  Morgan  began  to  pre 
pare  for  a  return  to  the  marquis,  and  he  prevailed  with 
several  British  soldiers  to  desert  with  him.  When  chal 
lenged  by  the  sentinels,  he  artfully  tampered  with  them 
by  giving  them  rum;  and,  while  drinking,  he  seized  their 
arms,  and  then  compelled  them  to  go;  and  this  brave 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1751. 

fellow  actually  brought  off  seven  deserters  to  our  camp. 
Qn  his  return  to  head-quarters,  the  marquis  accosted  him 
with,  "  Well,  Charley,  have  you  got  back?"  "  Yes,  please 
your  excellency,  and  have  brought  seven  men  with  me." 
Having  communicated  his  information,  the  marquis  offered 
to  reward  him,  but  he  declined  receiving  money ;  and  when 
't  was  proposed  to  promote  him  to  a  corporal  or  sergeant, 
he  replied,  "I  have  ability  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a 
common  soldier,  and  my  character  stands  fair;  but  should 
I  be  promoted,  I  may  fail,  and  lose  my  reputation."  He, 
however,  requested  that  his  destitute  comrades,  who  came 
with  him,  might  be  furnished  with  shoes  and  clothing, 
which  was  readily  granted. 

A  warm  action  took  place  early  in  September,  between 
General  Greene  and  the  main  body  of  the  royal  army, 
under  Colonel  Stuart,  at  Eutaw  springs.  Though  inferior 
in  force,  General  Greene  sought  the  enemy,  and  made  a 
furious  attack;  the  battle  became  general,  and  continued 
four  hours;  it  was  the  hottest  and  the  most  bloody,  for 
the  numbers  engaged,  that  General  Greene  ever  witnessed; 
many  of  the  officers  combated  sword  to  sword,  and  the 
soldiers,  rushing  together,  with  the  point  of  the  bayonet 
contended  with  increased  rage  and  effort  for  life,  for  blood, 
and  carnage.  A  party  of  the  enemy  possessed  themselves 
of  a  three-story  brick  house  and  a  picketed  garden,  which 
gave  them  considerable  advantage,  and  saved  their  army 
from  a  total  rout.  In  a  charge,  which  decided  the  fate  of 
the  day  in  our  favor,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell,  of  the 
Virginia  line,  who  with  undaunted  firmness  was  leading  on 
his  brigade,  received  a  mortal  wound;  and,  on  being  in 
formed  that  the  enemy  were  flying  in  all  quarters,  said, 
"I  die  contented."  Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington  had 
his  horse  killed  under  him,  was  wounded  and  taken  pris 
oner.  The  American  loss  is  not  less  than  sixty  commis 
sioned  officers  killed  and  wounded,  one  hundred  and  thirty 
rank  and  file  killed,  and  three  hundred  and  forty  wounded 
arid  missing.  The  loss  on  the  side  of  the  British  is  sup 
posed  to  be  fully  equal  in  point  of  numbers,  excepting  in 
officers,  and  five  hundred  men,  including  seventy  wounded, 
which  were  left,  were  the  next  day  made  prisoners  by  our 
arrny.  Victory  is  claimed  by  both  commanders,  but  the 
consequences  have  proved  most  disastrous  to  the  enemy; 


302  M1LITAKY  JOUENAL,  1781. 

for  the  next  day  Colonel  Stuart  destroyed  a  large  quantity 
of  stores,  abandoned  his  position,  and  leaving  one  thou 
sand  stand  of  arms  and  seventy  wounded  men,  retired  in 
haste  towards  Charleston. 

31st. — Our  troops  are  now  employed  in  embarking  the 
artillery  and  stores  on  board  of  transports,  and  we  are  soon 
to  proceed  by  water  to  the  head  of  Elk  river,  on  our  way 
to  the  North  river.  Dined  with  General  Hazen,  in  com 
pany  with  a  number  of  officers,  both  American  and 
French.  Here  we  enjoyed  a  profusion  of  mutual  con 
gratulations  on  our  late  glorious  success,  and  this  was  the 
chief  topic  of  conversation.  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his 
officers,  since  their  capitulation,  have  received  all  the 
civilities  and  hospitality  which  it  is  in  the  power  of  their 
conquerors  to  bestow.  General  Washington,  Count  Ro- 
chambeau,  and  other  general  officers,  have  frequently 
invited  them  to  entertainments,  and  they  have  expressed 
their  grateful  acknowledgments  in  return.  They  cannot 
avoid  feeling  the  striking  contrast  between  the  treatment 
which  they  now  experience  and  that  which  they  have 
bestowed  on  our  prisoners  who  have  unfortunately  fallen 
into  their  hands.  It  is  a  dictate  of  humanity  and  benev 
olence,  after  sheathing  the  sword,  to  relieve  and  meliorate 
the  condition  of  the  vanquished  prisoner. 

On  one  occasion,  while  in  the  presence  of  General  Wash 
ington,  Lord  Cornwallis  was  standing  with  his  head  un 
covered,  his  excellency  said  to  him,  politely,  "  My  lord, 
you  had  better  be  covered  from  the  cold;"  his  lordship, 
applying  his  hand  to  his  head,  replied,  ''It  matters  not, 
sir,  what  becomes  of  this  head  now." 

November  3d. — While  our  soldiers  were  loading  a  quan 
tity  of  bombs  and  shot  on  board  of  transports,  a  shell 
burst,  by  which  one  man  was  unfortunately  killed  and 
two  dangerously  wounded.  It  is  much  to  be  lamented 
that  these  brave  men,  whose  lives  have  been  preserved 
through  the  dangers  of  the  siege,  should  meet  their  ad 
verse  fate  in  such  a  manner.  Orders  are  now  received  for 
our  regiment  of  infantry  to  embark  on  board  the  Dili 
gence,  a  French  frigate  of  thirty-two  guns,  commanded 
by  Captain  Cleoughnaugh,  bound  up  the  Chesapeake,  to 
the  head  of  Elk  river.  Major  Nathan  Rice  commands 
our  regiment. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  303 

December.- — We  sailed  from  York  river  on  the  4th  of 
November,  and  in  consequence  of  severe  storms  and  con 
trary  winds,  our  voyage  was  very  unpleasant,  and  pro 
tracted  to  sixteen  days,  which  has  often  been  performed 
in  three.  Captain  Cleoughnaugh  and  his  officers  were 
very  polite  and  accommodating;  we  dined  constantly  at 
the  table  of  the  captain,  and  shared  with  him  in  his  store 
of  wine,  &c.  It  happened  unfortunately  that  a  few  days 
after  we  left  York,  four  of  our  soldiers  were  seized  with 
the  small-pox,  and  having  on  board  about  eighty  men 
who  were  liable  to  receive  the  infection,  they  were  "with 
several  officers  put  on  the  Virginia  shore,  to  march  round 
by  land.  We  disembarked  at  the  head  of  Elk,  on  the 
20th  of  November,  where  we  met  with  our  horses,  and 
on  the  24th  we  commenced  our  march  to  the  highlands, 
near  West  Point.  Passed  through  Philadelphia,  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Bonbrook  and  Morristown,  and  on  the  7th  in 
stant  crossed  the  Hudson  at  King's  ferry.  On  account 
of  the  inclemency  of  the  season  we  have  suffered  exceed 
ingly  from  cold,  wet  and  fatigue,  during  our  long  march. 
But  we  return  in  triumph  to  rejoin  our  respective  regi 
ments,  and  enjoy  a  constant  interchange  of  congratulations 
with  our  friends,  on  the  glorious  and  brilliant  success  of 
our  expedition,  which  closes  the  campaign.  This  event 
reflects  the  highest  honor  on  our  combined  arms;  it  will 
adorn  the  pages  of  our  history,  and  we  fondly  hope  it  will 
be  attended  with  the  most  favorable  consequences,  in 
bringing  this  long-protracted  and  distressing  war  to  a 
happy  termination.  It  will  be  to  me  a  source  of  inex 
pressible  satisfaction  that  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
participating  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  a  British  army. 
It  is  among  the  blessed  privileges  and  richest  incidents  of 
my  life.  I  have  for  several  days  been  afflicted  with  in* 
flamrnatory  rheumatism,  attended  with  excruciating  pains. 
Having  no  other  covering  than  canvas  tents,  and  the 
weather  being  extremely  cold,  my  sufferings  have  been 
almost  insupportable;  but  I  have  much  less  reason  to 
complain  than  to  be  grateful  to  a  kind  Providence,  that  I 
have  enjoyed  uninterrupted  health  during  my  seven  years 
of  military  service. 

Since  my  return,  I  am  happy  to  learn  that  my  friend 
Major  Trescott,  of  our  regiment,  with  a  detachment  of  one 


304  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

hundred  men,  crossed  the  Sound  to  Long  Island  on  the 
3d  of  October,  and  completely  surprised  the  enemy's  fort 
Slonge,  making  two  captains,  one  lieutenant,  and  eighteen 
rank  and  file  prisoners;  of  the  enemy  two  were  killed  and 
two  wounded;  of  the  Americans  one  only  was  wounded. 
Two  double  fortified  four-pounders  were  damaged,  one 
brass  three-pounder,  with  a  number  of  small-arms,  ammu 
nition,  clothing,  English  goods,  &c.,  were  brought  off. 
This  enterprise  was  conducted  with  much  address  and  gal 
lantry,  reflecting  great  honor  on  the  commander  and  his 
little  party. 

By  report  from  the  northern  department,  the  British 
having  projected  an  attack  on  the  frontiers  of  New  York 
state,  were  advancing  towards  Albany  through  the  settle 
ments  on  the  Mohawk  river,  and  committing  great  depre 
dations  among  the  inhabitants.  The  party  was  commanded 
by  Major  Ross,  and  consisted  of  six  hundred  regular  ran 
gers  and  Indians.  Having,  on  the  25th  of  October,  ad 
vanced  as  far  as  Johnstown,  they  were  met  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Willet,  at  the  head  of  a  regiment  of  New  York 
levies,  and  some  militia,  with  about  sixty  Oneida  Indians. 
This  officer  has  frequently  given  evidence  of  his  valor 
and  gallantry,  and  on  this  occasion  he  was  no  less  fortu 
nate  in  his  enterprise.  Having  directed  Major  Rowly, 
with  a  body  of  militia,  by  a  circuitous  movement,  to  get 
into  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  he  made  a  vigorous  attack  in 
front,  and  they  were  soon  totally  defeated  and  driven  into 
the  wilderness.  The  next  day  a  party  of  our  people  and 
Indians  followed  in  pursuit  till  they  were  worn  down  by 
fatigue.  It  was  impossible  to  ascertain  the  number  of  the 
enemy's  slain,  but  their  loss  must  have  been  very  con 
siderable.  Fifty-two  prisoners  were  taken  and  brought  in, 
and  Major  Ross,  with  the  remainder  of  his  party,  escaped 
into  the  barren  wilderness,  where  they  must  have  suffered 
extremely  for  want  of  provisions.  The  loss  on  the  side 
of  Colonel  Willet  is  one  lieutenant  and  twelve  rank  and 
file  killed;  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  and  twenty  rank 
and  file  wounded.  Colonel  Willet's  victory  is  rendered 
more  important  by  the  fall  of  the  notorious  Major  Butler, 
who  has  long,  as  a  partizan  officer  with  the  savages,  been 
a  scourge  to  the  frontier  inhabitants.  He  was  wounded 
by  one  of  our  Indians,  and  on  asking  for  quarters,  "  Yes, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  395 

Cherry -Valley  quarter"  said  the  Indian,  and  immediately 
despatched  him.  He  alluded  to  Butler's  having  refused 
quarter  to  our  people  at  Cherry- Valley,  in  November,  1778. 

When  Congress  received  General  Washington's  letter, 
announcing  the  surrender  of  the  British  army,  they  re 
solved,  that  they  would  at  two  o'clock  go  in  procession  to 
the  Dutch  Lutheran  Church,  and  return  thanks  to  Al 
mighty  God,  for  crowning  the  allied  arms  with  success, 
by  the  surrender  of  the  whole  British  army,  under  the 
command  of  Earl  Cornwallis.  They  also  issued  a  pro 
clamation  for  religiously  observing  throughout  the  United 
States  the  13th  of  December,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving 
and  prayer.  They  resolved,  that  thanks  should  be  given 
to  General  Washington,  Count  Rochambeau,  Count  de 
Grasse,  and  the  officers  of  the  different  corps,  and  the  men 
under  their  command,  for  their  services  in  the  reduction 
of  Lord  Cornwallis.  Also,  resolved,  to  erect  in  Yorktown 
a  marble  column,  adorned  with  emblems  of  the  alliance 
between  the  United  States  and  his  Most  Christian  Majesty, 
and  inscribed  with  a  succinct  narrative  of  the  surrender 
of  the  British  army.  Two  stands  of  colors,  taken  from 
the  royal  troops  under  the  capitulation,  were  presented  to 
General  Washington  in  the  name  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled;  and  two  pieces  of  field  ordnance,  so 
taken,  were  by  a  resolve  of  Congress  to  be  presented  by 
General  Washington  to  Count  Kochambeau,  with  a  short 
memorandum  engraved  thereon,  that  "Congress  were  in 
duced  to  present  them  from  considerations  of  the  illustrious 
part  which  he  bore  in  effecting  the  surrender." 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  assembly  and 
council  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  number  of 
principal  gentlemen  of  various  orders,  having  been  invited 
by  the  minister  of  France  to  be  present  at  the  praises 
offered  to  Heaven  in  the  Catholic  Church,  on  occasion  of 
the  late  glorious  success  of  the  allied  arms,  the  Abbe  Ban- 
dole,  Almoner  to  the  Embassy  of  His  Most  Christian 
Majesty,  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  addressed  this  august 
assembly  in  the  following  discourse ;  after  which  a  Te  Deum 


was  sung. 

rrr 


The  occasion  was  in  this  hemisphere  singular  and  affect 
ing;  and  the  discourse  itself  is  so  elegant  and  animated 
in  the  French,  so  warm  with  those  sentiments  of  piety  and 


306    %  MILITAKY  JOUENAL,  1781. 

gratitude  to  our  Divine  Benefactor,  in  which  good  men 
of  all  countries  accord,  and  so  evidently  dictated  by  the 
spirit  of  that  new  friendship  and  alliance  from  which  such 
important  advantages  have  been  derived  to  the  rights  of 
America,  as  must  give  pleasure  to  every  serious  and  can 
did  friend  to  our  glorious  cause. 

"GENTLEMEN:  A  numerous  people  assembled  to  render  thanks  to  the 
Almighty  for  his  mercies,  is  one  of  the  most  affecting  objects,  and  wor 
thy  the  attention  of  the  Supreme  Being.  While  camps  resound  with 
triumphal  acclamations,  while  nations  rejoice  in  victory  and  glory,  the 
most  honorable  office  a  minister  of  the  altar  can  fill,  is  to  be  the  organ 
by  which  public  gratitude  is  conveyed  to  the  Omnipotent. 

"Those  miracles  which  he  once  wrought  for  his  chosen  people  are 
renewed  in  our  favor;  and  it  would  be  equally  ungrateful  and  impious 
not  to  acknowledge,  that  the  event  which  lately  confounded  our  enemies, 
and  frustrated  their  designs,  was  the  wonderful  work  of  that  GOD  who 
guards  your  liberties. 

"And  who  but  he  could  so  combine  the  circumstances  which  led  to 
success?  We  have  seen  our  enemies  push  forward  amid  perils  almost 
innumerable — amid  obstacles  almost  insurmountable — to  the  spot  which 
was  designed  to  witness  their  disgrace;  yet  they  eagerly  sought  it,  as 
their  theatre  of  triumph!  Blind  as  they  were,  they,boro  hunger,  thirst, 
and  inclement  skies,  poured  their  blood  in  battle  against  brave  republi 
cans,  and  crossed  immense  regions  to  confine  themselves  in  another 
Jericho,  whose  walls  were  fated  to  fall  before  another  Joshua.  It  is  he, 
whose  voice  commands  the  winds,  the  seas,  and  the  seasons,  who  formed 
a  junction  on  the  same  day,  in  the  same  hour,  between  a  formidable  fleet 
from  the  south,  and  an  army  rushing  from  the  north,  like  an  impetuous 
torrent.  Who  but  he,  in  whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of  men,  could  in 
spire  the  allied  troops  with  the  friendship,  the  confidence,  the  tenderness 
of  brothers?  How  is  it  that  two  nations,  once  divided,  jealous,  inimical, 
and  nursed  in  reciprocal  prejudices,  are  now  become  so  closely  united 
as  to  form  but  one  1  Worldlings  would  say,  it  is  the  wisdom,  the  virtue, 
and  moderation  of  their  chiefs — it  is  a  great  national  interest  which  has 
performed  this  prodigy.  They  will  say,  that  to  the  skill  of  the  generals, 
to  the  courage  of  the  troops,  to  the  activity  of  the  whole  army,  we  must 
attribute  this  splendid  success.  Ah!  they  are  ignorant  that  the  com 
bining  of  so  many  fortunate  circumstances  is  an  emanation  from  the 
All-perfect  Mind;  that  courage,  that  skill,  that  activity  bear  the  sacred 
impression  of  him  who  is  divine. 

"For  how  many  favors  have  we  not  to  thank  him  during  the  course 
of  the  present  year?  Your  union,  which  was  at  first  supported  by  jus 
tice  alone,  has  been  consolidated  by  your  courage,  and  the  knot  which 
ties  you  together  is  become  indissoluble  by  the  accession  of  all  the 
states,  and  the  unanimous  voice  of  all  the  confederates.  You  present 
to  the  universe  the  noble  sight  of  a  society  which,  founded  in  equality 
and  justice,  secure  to  the  individuals  who  compose  it  the  utmost  happi 
ness  which  can  be  derived  from  human  institutions.  This  advantage, 
which  so  many  other  nations  have  been  unable  to  procure,  even  after 


MILITARY  JOUKNAL,  1782. 


307 


ages  of  efforts  and  misery,  is  granted  by  Divine  Providence  to  the  United 
States;  and  his  adorable  decrees  have  marked  the  present  moment  for 
the  completion  of  that  memorable,  happy  revolution  which  has  taken 
place  in  this  extensive  continent.  While  your  councils  were  thus  ac 
quiring  new  energy,  rapid  and  multiplied  successes  have  crowned  your 
arms  in  the  Southern  states. 

"  We  have  seen  the  unfortunate  citizens  of  these  states  forced  from 
their  peaceful  abodes;  after  a  long  and  cruel  captivity,  old  men,  women 
and  children  thrown,  without  mercy,  into  a  foreign  country.  Master  of 
their  lands  and  their  slaves,  amid  his  temporary  affluence,  a  superb  victor 
rejoiced  in  their  distresses.  But  Philadelphia  has  witnessed  their  patience 
and  fortitude;  they  have  found  here  another  home,  and,  though  driven 
from  their  native  soil,  they  have  blessed  God  that  he  has  delivered  them 
from  the  presence  of  their  enemy,  and  conducted  them  to  a  country 
where  ev«ry  just  and  feeling  man  has  stretched  out  the  helping  hand  of 
benevolence.  Heaven  rewards  their  virtues.  These  large  states  are  at 
once  wrested  from  the  foe.  The  rapacious  soldier  has  been  compelled 
to  take  refuge  behind  his  ramparts,  and  oppression  has  vanished  like 
those  phantoms  which  are  dissipated  by  the  morning  ray. 

"On  this  solemn  occasion,  we  might  renew  our  thanks  to  the  God  of 
buttles  for  the  success  he  has  granted  to  the  arms  of  your  allies  and 

£[>ur  friends,  by  land  and  by  sea,  through  the  other  parts  of  the  globe, 
ut  let  us  not  recall  those  events,  which  too  clearly  prove  how  much 
the  hearts  of  our  enemies  have  been  hardened.  Let  us  prostrate  our 
selves  at  the  altar,  and  implore  the  God  of  mercy  to  suspend  his  ven 
geance,  to  spare  them  in  his  wrath,  to  inspire  them  with  sentiments  of 
justice  and  moderation,  to  terminate  their  obstinacy  and  error,  and  to 
ordain  that  your  victories  be  followed  by  peace  and  tranquillity.  Let  us 
beseech  him  to  continue  to  shed  on  the  councils  of  the  king,  your  ally, 
that  spirit  of  wisdom,  of  justice,  and  of  courage,  which  has  rendered  his 
reign  so  glorious. — Let  us  entreat  him  to  maintain  in  each  of  the  states 
that  intelligence  by  which  the  United  States  are  inspired.  Let  us  return 
him  thanks  that  a  faction,  whose  rebellion  he  has  corrected,  now  de 
prived  of  support,  is  annihilated.  Let  us  offer  him  pure  hearts,  unsoiled 
by  private  hatred  or  public  dissension;  and  let  us,  with  one  will  and  one 
voice,  pour  forth  to  the  Lord  that  hymn  of  praise,  by  which  Christians 
celebrate  their  gratitude  and  his  glory." 

January,  1782. — The  huts  which  we  now  occupy  were 
erected  the  last  winter  by  some  of  the  Massachusetts 
troops,  a  short  distance  from  the  banks  of  the  Hudson, 
and  called  New  Boston ;  they  afford  us  a  very  convenient 
and  comfortable  accommodation.  Orders  having  been 
received  for  all  the  troops  that  have  not  gone  through  the 
small-pox  to  be  inoculated,  I  commenced  this  business  a 
few  weeks  since,  and  inoculated  about  two  hundred,  in 
cluding  women  and  children.  Their  accommodations  were 
not  such  as  their  circumstances  required;  we  were  unpro 
vided  with  proper  articles  of  diet,  and  a  considerable 


308  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

number  were  seized  with  putrid  fever,  which  proved  fatal 
in  several  instances. 

March  Wth. — A  singular  incident  occurred  in  the  sixth 
regiment  to-day.  Two  soldiers  were  eating  soup  together, 
and  one  forbid  the  other  eating  any  more;  as  he  did  not 
desist,  his  comrade  gave  him  a  blow  with  his  fist  on  the 
side  of  his  head,  on  which  he  fell  to  the  ground  and  in 
stantly  expired.  On  close  examination,  I  could  discover 
no  bruise  or  injury  which  could  enable  me  to  account  sat 
isfactorily  for  his  death. 

An  unhappy  controversy  has  subsisted  for  some  time 
between  Captain  H.  and  Lieutenant  S.,  both  of  the  first 
Massachusetts  regiment.  Captain  H.  was  esteemed  a  man 
of  modest  merit  and  unexceptionable  character;  he  has 
long  commanded  a  company,  and  proved  himself  brave  in 
the  field  and  a  good  disciplinarian.  Lieutenant  S.,  though 
a  good,  active  officer,  is  assuming,  high-spirited,  and  values 
himself  on  what  he  deems  the  principles  of  honor  and  the 
gentleman.  Having  imbibed  a  strong  prejudice  against 
his  captain,  and  probably  calculating  on  promotion,  he 
took  unjustifiable  liberties,  and,  in  violation  of  honor  and 
decency,  aspersed  his  character  with  unfounded  calumnies. 
The  friends  of  the  parties  interposed,  and  endeavored  to 
effect  a  reconciliation.  S.  affected  an  acquiescence;  in 
consequence  of  which,  the  contention  apparently  subsided. 
But  still  retaining  in  his  breast  the  old  grudge,  he  renewed 
his  calumnies,  and  was  determined  to  provoke  his  captain 
to  a  personal  combat;  and  though  contrary  to  his  nature 
and  to  his  principles,  he  was  compelled  to  the  alternative. 
Captain  H.  obtained  a  furlough,  visited  his  friends  in  Mas 
sachusetts,  made  his  will,  and  arranged  his  worldly  affairs. 
Having  returned  to  camp,  it  was  agreed  to  meet  in  the 
field  according  to  the  rules  ofduellmg.  The  tragical  result 
is,  that  Captain  H.  received  a  mortal  wound,  and  died  in 
three  hours  after,  and  S.  escaped  with  a  wound  in  his  arm. 
Thus  has  this  imperious  young  man,  to  gratify  a  sordid 
passion,  sent  into  eternity  a  man  whom  he  ought  to  have 
respected  as  his  superior  in  every  point  of  view — deprived 
the  public  of  a  valuable  officer,  and  a  wife  and  three  chil 
dren  of  a  husband  and  father.  Barbarous  and  cruel  mur 
derer  !  you  have  violated  the  laws  of  God  and  man.  Should 
you  escape  punishment  in  this  life,  what  must  be  your 


MILITAEY  JOUENAL,  1782.  gQ9 

doom  in  the  awful  day  of  retribution?  The  friends  of 
Captain  H.  in  Massachusetts  manifested  their  abhorrence 
of  this  murderous  deed,  and  endeavored  by  a  legal  pro 
cess  to  bring  S.  to  condign  punishment.  They  procured 
a  sheriff  in  the  state  of  New  York,  where  the  crime  was 
committed,  who  repaired  to  camp  with  assistance,  took  the 
opportunity  when  the  regiment  was  on  parade,  and  de 
manded  of  the  colonel  that  S.  should  be  delivered  up  to 
the  civil  authority.  The  colonel  reluctantly  pointed  out 
the  man,  the  sheriff  advanced  towards  him,  and  S.,  soldier 
like,  unsheathed  his  sword  and  stood  in  defiance.  The 
sheriff,  -unaccustomed  to  the  sword,  was  intimidated,  and 
finally  retired  from  the  field  without  the  prisoner.* 

April  5th.  —  Having  completed  the  inoculation  of  the 
soldiers,  and  attended  them  through  the  small-pox,  and 
my  professional  duty  being  considerably  diminished,  I 
have  obtained  a  furlough  for  forty-five  days  to  visit  my 
friends  in  Massachusetts,  and  shall  to-morrow  commence 
my  journey  to  Boston,  in  company  with  my  friend  Doc 
tor  Eustis. 

May  SQth.  —  I  returned  to  New  Boston  last  evening  from 
Boston,  having  been  absent  forty-four  days,  which  is  one 
day  short  of  my  furlough;  our  journey  to  Boston  occupied 
nine  days,  being  impeded  by  foul  weather  and  bad  roads. 
We  were  on  horseback,  attended  by  a  servant,  and  took 
our  route  through  Connecticut  and  Providence.  Here  we 
spent  a  pleasant  evening  with  Lieutenarit-Governor  Bowen  ; 
he  and  Doctor  Eustis  engaged  in  conversation  respecting 
the  properties  of  coffee;  Governor  Bowen  asserted  that  it 
is  a  sedative,  while  the  doctor  contended  for  its  stimulant 
effects,  and  he  certainly  had  the  best  of  the  argument. 
Having  arrived  at  Boston,  Doctor  Eustis  kindly  introduced 
me  to  his  father's  family,  where  I  received  hospitable  and 
polite  civilities.  I  proceeded  to  Plymouth  and  Barnstable, 
where  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  a  family  interview,  after  an 
absence  of  four  years.  Great  preparations  are  making  at 
t^  Point,  to  celebrate  the  birth  of  the  young  Dauphin 


*  In  the  year  1786,  a  regiment  was  raised  in  the  state  of  Massachu 
setts  for  the  purpose  of  an  Indian  expedition.  Lieutenant  S.  presented 
his  pretensions  as  a  candidate  for  a  commission,  but  notwithstanding  a 
respectable  recommendation  from  several  general  officers,  the  governor 
and  council  rejected  the  application  with  disdain. 


310  MILITARY  JOUKNAL.  1782. 

of  France;  being  in  alliance  with  his  Most  Christian  Ma 
jesty,  propriety  requires  that  we  should  celebrate  the  joy 
ous  event  of  the  birth  of  his  first  son.  His  Excellency 
General  Washington  has,  in  general  orders,  given  an  in 
vitation  to  all  officers  of  the  army,  and  they  are  requested 
to  invite  any  friends  or  acquaintance  they  may  have  in 
the  country  to  participate  in  the  grand  festival. 

On  the  6th  instant  a  dangerous  mutiny  was  discovered 
among  the  soldiers  of  the  Connecticut  line.  It  had  been 
conducted  with  so  much  address  and  secrecy,  that  it  was 
on  the  point  of  execution  before  it  was  divulged.  The 
defection  was  general  in  the  line:  the  soldiers  had  deter 
mined  at  reveille  the  next  morning  to  have  marched  from 
their  cantonments  with  arms,  &c.,  complete,  for  Fishkill, 
where  they  intended  to  take  a  number  of  field-pieces  with 
ammunition  and  provisions,  and  proceed  to  Hartford,  and 
there  demand  of  the  Assembly  that  justice  which  they 
consider  their  due.  At  the  moment  the  officers  were  re 
tiring  to  bed,  a  faithful  soldier,  who  was  a  waiter,  informed 
his  officer  that  he  could  not  retire  to  rest  without  divulg 
ing  an  event  which  would  assuredly  take  place  the  next 
morning  at  day-light.  The  most  guilty  soldiers  were  im 
mediately  seized  and  confined,  and  the  ringleader  was  sen 
tenced  to  suffer  death,  which  happily  frustrated  the  whole 
design.  It  is  but  just  to  observe,  that  the  Connecticut  line 
of  troops  have  during  the  war,  except  in  this  instance, 
conducted  in  a  very  exemplary  and  meritorious  manner. 

June  1st. — Yesterday  was  celebrated  the  birth  of  the 
Dauphin  of  France,  by  a  magnificent  festival.  The  edifice 
under  which  the  company  assembled  and  partook  of  the 
entertainment  was  erected  on  the  plain  at  West  Point. 
The  situation  was  romantic,  and  the  occasion  novel  and 
interesting*  Major  Villefranche,  an  ingenious  French 
engineer,  has  been  employed  with  one  thousand  men 
about  ten  days  in  constructing  the  curious  edifice.  It  is 
composed  of  the  simple  materials  which  the  common  trees 
in  this  vicinity  afford.  It  is  about  six  hundred  feet  in 
length  and  thirty  feet  wide,  supported  by  a  grand  colon 
nade  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  pillars,  made  of  the 
trunks  of  trees.  The  covering  of  the  roof  consists  of 
boughs,  or  branches  of  trees  curiously  interwoven,  and  the 
same  materials  form  the  walls,  leaving  the  ends  entirely 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

open.  On  the  inside,  every  pillar  was  encircled  with 
muskets  and  bayonets,  bound  round  in  a  fanciful  and 
handsome  manner,  and  the  whole  interior 'was  decorated 
with  evergreens,  with  American  and  French  military 
colors,  and  a  variety  of  emblems  and  devices,  all  adjusted 
in  such  style  as  to  beautify  the  whole  interior  of  the  fabric. 
This  superb  structure,  in  symmetry  of  proportion,  neat 
ness  of  workmanship,  and  elegance  of  arrangement,  has 
seldom  perhaps  been  surpassed  on  any  temporary  occasion ; 
it  affected  the  spectators  with  admiration  and  pleasure,  and 
reflects  much  credit  on  the  taste  and  ability  of  Major  Vil- 
lefranche.  Several  appropriate  rnottos  decorated  the  grand 
edifice,  pronouncing  benedictions  on  the  dauphin  and  hap 
piness  to  the  two  allied  nations.  The  whole  army  was 
paraded  on  the  contiguous  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
forming  a  circle  of  several  miles  in  open  view  of  the  public 
edifice,  and  at  the  given  signal  of  firing  three  cannon,  the 
regimental  officers  all  left  their  commands,  and  repaired 
to  the  building  to  partake  of  the  entertainment  which  had 
been  prepared  by  order  of  the  commander-in-chief.  At 
five  o'clock,  dinner  being  on  the  table,  his  Excellency 
General  Washington  and  lady  and  suite,  the  principal 
officers  of  the  army  and  their  ladies,  Governor  Clinton 
and  his  lady,  and  a  number  of  respectable  characters  from 
the  states  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  moved  from 
Major-General  McDougall's  quarters  through  the  line 
formed  by  Colonel  Crane's  regiment  of  artillery  to  the 
arbor,  where  more  than  five  hundred  gentlemen  and  ladies 
partook  of  a  magnificent  festival.  A  martial  band 
charmed  our  senses  with  music,  while  we  feasted  our  ap 
petites  and  gazed  with  admiration  on  the  illustrious  guests 
and  the  novej  spectacle  exhibited  to  our  view.  The  cloth- 
being  removed,  thirteen  appropriate  toasts  were  drank, 
each  one  being  announced  by  the  discharge  of  thirteen 
cannon  and  accompanied  by  music.  The  guests  retired 
from  the  table  at  seven  o'clock,  and  the  regimental  officers 
repaired  to  their  respective  commands.  The  arbor  was, 
in  the  evening,  illuminated  by  a  vast  number  of  lights, 
which  being  arranged  in  regular  and  tasteful  order,  ex 
hibited  a  scene  vieing  in  brilliancy  with  the  starry  firm 
ament.  The  officers  having  rejoined  their  regiments, 
thirteen  cannon  were  again  fired  as  a  prelude  to  a  general 


312  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

feu  de  joie,  which  immediately  succeeded  throughout  the 
whole  line  of  the  army  on  the  surrounding  hills;  and  be 
ing  three  times  repeated,  the  mountains  resounded  and 
echoed  like  tremendous  peals  of  thunder,  and  the  flashing 
from  thousands  of  fire-arms  in  the  darkness  of  evening, 
could  be  compared  only  to  the  most  vivid  flashes  of  light 
ning  from  the  clouds.  The  feu  de  joie  was  immediately 
followed  by  three  shouts  of  acclamation  and  benediction 
for  the  dauphin,  by  the  united  voices  of  the  whole  army 
on  all  sides.  At  half-past  eleven  o'clock,  the  celebration 
was  concluded  by  the  exhibition  of  fire-works,  very  in 
geniously  constructed  of  various  figures.  His  Excellency 
General  Washington  was  unusually  cheerful.  He  attended 
the  ball  in  the  evening,  and  with  a  dignified  and  graceful 
air,  having  Mrs.  Knox  for  his  partner,  carried  down  a 
dance  of  twenty  couple  in  the  arbor  on  the  green  grass. 

June  20th.- — Dined  by  invitation  with  Major-General 
Howe,  at  his  quarters  at  Kobinson's  house,  with  several 
respectable  guests. 

23d — The  officers  of  our  regiment  prepared  an  enter 
tainment  and  invited  a  respectable  party.  At  three  o'clock 
we  repaired  to  an  arbor  erected  for  the  occasion,  under 
which  a  long  table  was  spread  and  a  variety  of  dishes  ar 
ranged  in  proper  style ;  we  prided  ourselves  on  our  camp 
dinner,  as  being  almost  on  a  par  with  that  of  a  country 
gentleman.  A  band  of  military  music  attended,  and  we 
finished  with  toasts  and  songs  in  social  glee. 

July. — Our  brigade  moved  out  of  huts  on  the  first  in 
stant,  and  encamped  at  Nelson's  point,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Hudson,  opposite  West  Point. 

On  the  4th,  the  anniversary  of  the  declaration  of  our 
Independence  was  celebrated  in  camp.  Th.e  whole  army 
was  formed  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  on  each  side  of 
the  river.  The  signal  of  thirteen  cannon  being  given  at 
West  Point,  the  troops  displayed  and  formed  in  a .  line, 
when  a  general  feu  de  joie  took  place  throughout  the 
whole  army. 

A  most  barbarous  and  horrid  transaction  of  the  royal 
refugees,  a  few  weeks  since,  has  excited  universal  indig 
nation  throughout  the  army.  It  is  the  cruel  murder  of  Cap 
tain  Joshua  Huddy,  of  New  Jersey,  who,  being  command 
ing  officer  tf  a  detachment  stationed  at  the  block-house  in 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782.  3^3 

Mon mouth  county,  was  attacked  by  a  party  of  refugees 
from  New  York  on  Sunday,  the  24th  March,  and  after 
bravely  defending  himself  till  he  had  expended  his  am 
munition,  was  taken  prisoner  and  carried  into  New  York. 
He  was  closely  confined  till  April  8th,  when,  without  even 
the  form  of  a  trial,  he  was  told  that  he  was  ordered  to  be 
hanged;  accordingly,  on  the  12th,  he  was  carried  over  to 
the  Jersey  shore,  by  a  party  of  refugees  under  the  direc 
tion  of  one  Captain  Lippincot,  and  there  hung  on  a  tree, 
and  left  with  the  following  label  affixed  on  his* breast: 
"  We  the  refugees,  having  wjth  grief  long  beheld  the  cruel 
murders  of  our  brethern,  and  finding  nothing  but  such 
measures  daily  carrying  into  execution — we,  therefore, 
determine  not  to  suffer  without  taking  vengeance  for 
the  numerous  cruelties;  and  thus  begin,  and,  I  say,  may 
those  lose  their  liberty  who  a  do  not  follow  on,  and  have 
made  use  of  Captain  Huddy  as  the  first  object  to  present 
to  your  view;  and  further  determine  to  hang  man  for  man 
while  there  is  a  refugee  existing.  Up  goes  Huddy  for 
Philip  White." 

The  refugees  pretend  to  justify  this  violent  act  by  assert 
ing  that  Captain  Huddy,  some  time  before,  made  prisoner 
of  a  certain  Philip  White,  of  their  party,  and  after  having 
maimed  him,  broke  both  his  legs,  and  tauntingly  bid  him 
run.  But  this  is  a  vile  falsehood ;  it  has  been  fully  proved 
that  Captain  Huddy  was  closely  confined  a  prisoner  at  New 
York  at  the  time  and  for  many  days  before  White  was  taken. 
A  letter  dated  at  Freehold,  Monmouth  county,  15th  April 
last,  and  published  in  the  Trenton  paper,  relates  that  White 
was  taken  the  last  of  March,  and  after  tokens  of  surren 
dering  as  a  prisoner,  he  took  up  a  musket,  and  killed  a 
son  of  Colonel  Hendrickson;  but  being  taken  by  some 
light-horse,  and  while  they  were  conducting  him  to  Free 
hold,  he  again  attempted  to  make  his  escape;  and  being 
called  on  several  times  to  surrender,  and  continuing  to  run, 
when  leaping  into  a  bog  impassable  by  the  horse,  he  re 
ceived  a  stroke  on  his  head  with  a  sword  which  killed  him 
instantly.  The  above  facts  were  proved  by  affidavits  of  the 
persons  who  were  present,  and  by  the  voluntary  testimony 
of  one  Aaron,  who  was  taken  prisoner  with  the  said  White. 
The  wanton  execution  of  Captain  Huddy  so  exasperated  the 
inhabitants  of  that  part  of  New  Jersey,  that  they  presented 


314  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

a  respectful  memorial  to  General  Washington,  claiming 
justice  for  the  murder  of  one  of  their  fellow-citizens,  or 
retaliation  in  case  justice  should  be  refused.  General 
Washington  immediately  addressed  Sir  Henry  Clinton  on 
the  subject,  and  assured  him  that  unless  the  perpetrators 
of  the  murder  were  delivered  up,  he  should  be  under  the 
painful  necessity  of  retaliating.  In  the  meantime,  all  the 
general  officers,  and  those  commanding  brigades  or  regi 
ments,  were  ordered  to  assemble  at  General  Heath's  quar 
ters,  to'  deliberate  and  decide  on  the  following  questions: 
1st,  Shall  resort  be  had  to  retaliation  for  the  murder  of 
Captain  Hnddy?  2d,  On  whom  shall  it  be  inflicted?  3d, 
How  shall  the  victim  be  designated?  In  order  that  each 
officer  should  be  free  from  all  bias  and  uninfluenced  by 
each  other,  General  Washington  ordered  that,  without 
conversing  on  the  questions,  each  one  should  write  his 
own  opinion,  and  address  the  same  sealed  up  to  the  com- 
mander-in-chief.  By  this  method  his  excellency  obtained 
the  spontaneous  expression  of  the  feelings  of  each  indi 
vidual  officer,  and  they  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that 
retaliation  ought  to  be  resorted  to;  that  it  should  be  in 
flicted  on  an  officer  of  equal  rank  with  Captain  Huddy, 
and  that  the  victim  be  designated  by  lot.  Accordingly 
the  painful  alternative  was  adopted:  the  names  of  the 
British  captains,  our  prisoners,  were  collected,  a  fair  and 
impartial  lot  was  drawn,  and  it  fell  on  Captain  Asgill,  of 
the  British  guards,  a  gentleman  of  a  noble  English  family, 
an  only  son  of  his  parents,  and  only  nineteen  years  of 
age,  to  be  the  unhappy  victim.  Next  to  the  execution 
of  Major  Andre,  this  event  occasioned  the  most  painful 
sensations  to  the  mind  of  the  benevolent  and  humane 
Washington ;  his  anxiety  and  poignant  distress  it  is  said 
were  very  visible.  But  still,  firm  and  inflexible  in  his 
determination  to  obtain  satisfaction,  or  pursue  a  course 
that  will  tend  to  deter  others  from  a  repetition  of  crimes  so 
derogatory  to  the  laws  of  humanity,  of  war,  and  of  justice, 
he  addressed  Congress  on  the  subject,  and  communicated 
to  that  body  the  New  Jersey  memorial.  They  unan 
imously  approved  of  the  firm  and  judicious  conduct  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  and  assured  him  of  their  firmest  sup 
port  in  his  purpose  of  exemplary  retaliation. 

General  Washington  was  anxious  to  alleviate  the  mel- 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

ancholy  condition  of  Captain  Asgill  as  much  as  possible, 
and  directed  the  officer  of  his  guard  to  treat  him  with 
every  tender  attention  and  politeness  which  his  rank,  for 
tune,  and  connexions,  together  with  his  unfortunate  state, 
demanded,  that  is  not  inconsistent  with  his  perfect  security. 
He  ordered  also  that  Captain  Ludlow,  Asgill's  friend, 
should  be  permitted  to  go  into  New  York  with  such  repre 
sentations  as  they  may  please  to  make  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
who  has  now  succeeded  Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  British  army.  Captain  Asgill,  in  addressing 
General  Washington,  thus  expresses  himself:  "I  cannot 
conclude  this  letter  without  expressing  my  gratitude  to 
your  excellency  for  ordering  Colonel  Dayton  to  favor  me 
as  much  as  my  situation  will  admit  of,  and  in  justice  to 
him  I  must  acknowledge  the  feeling  and  attentive  man 
ner  in  which  these  commands  have  been  executed."  How 
awful  is  the  condition  of  this  innocent  young  gentleman, 
doomed  to  suffer  an  ignominious  death  for  the  crime  of  an 
infamous  miscreant  who  so  justly  deserves  the  halter! 
Dreadful  indeed  must  be  that  suspense  when  one's  life  is 
made  to  poise  on  a  point  so  acute  and  delicate  that  an 
uncertain  contingency  shall  decide  the  issue.  General 
Washington  having  received  information  by  letter,  that 
a  court-martial  was  appointed  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  even 
before  he  received  the  letter  of  complaint,  for  the  trial  of 
Captain  Lippincot  and  his  abettors  in  the  death  of  Captain 
Huddy,  waited  to  be  apprised  of  the  issue,  as  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  had  assured  him  of  the  fullest  satisfaction.  At 
length,  however,  the  proceedings  of  the  court-martial  were 
communicated,  and  it  was  finished  by  the  following  declar 
ation:  "The  court  having  considered  the  evidence  for 
and  against  the  captain,  and  it  appearing,  that,  though 
Joshua  Huddy  was  executed  without  proper  authority, 
what  the  prisoner  did,  was  not  the  effect  of  malice  or  ill- 
will,  but  proceeded  from  a  conviction  that  it  was  his  duty 
to  obey  the  orders  of  the  board  of  directors  of  associated 
loyalists,  and  his  not  doubting  their  having  full  authority 
to  give  such  orders,  the  court  is  of  opinion  that  he  is  not 
guilty  of  the  murder  laid  to  his  charge,  and  therefore  acquit 
him."  Never  perhaps  was  there  a  more  complete  bur 
lesque  on  all  courts  of  justice !  never  a  more  disgraceful  pro 
ceeding  to  exculpate  a  criminal  from  merited  punishment. 
21 


316  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

It  appeared  in  the  course  of  the  trial  that  Governor  Frank 
lin,  president  of  the  board  of  associated  loyalists,  gave 
Lippincot  a  verbal  order  to  hang  Captain  Huddy  without 
a  trial,  and  without  a  crime  alleged  against  him!  The 
order  is  obeyed  in  the  most  unfeeling  manner,  yet  the  per 
petrator  is  found  not  guilty,  and  therefore  acquitted.  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  requested  of  General  Washington  a  passport  for 
Chief-Justice  Smith  to  repair  to  the  American  head-quar 
ters  in  order  to  lay  before  the  commander-in-chief  the 
proceedings  of  the  court-martial,  with  other  documents  and 
explanations  which  he  had  no  doubt  would  be  satisfactory. 
His  excellency  declined  an  interview  with  Mr.  Smith,  "as 
the  question  is  purely  of  a  military  nature,  and  reducible 
to  the  single  point  whether  the  perpetrator  of  the  wanton 
and  cruel  murder  of  Huddy  is  to  be  given  up,  or  a  British 
officer  to  suffer  in  his  place."  But  he  proposed  to  send 
Major-General  Heath  to  meet  a  British  officer  of  equal 
rank,  if  agreeable  to  the  English  commander.  This  was 
also  declined,  and  it  appears  that  both  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
and  Sir  Guy  Carleton  disapproved  of  the  acquittal  of  Lip 
pincot.  Sir  Guy,  in  a  letter  which  accompanied  the  pro 
ceedings  of  the  court,  expressed  in  unequivocal  terms  to 
General  Washington  that,  notwithstanding  the  acquittal, 
he  reprobated  the  act,  and  gave  assurances  of  prosecuting 
a  further  inquiry.  Thus  stands  at  present  this  very  unfor 
tunate  affair,  and  Captain  Asgill  remains  in  custody  to 
.await  the  final  issue. 

In  order  to  avoid  breaking  the  chain  of  this  interesting 
narrative,  I  proceed,  in  anticipation  in  point  of  time,  to  the 
final  conclusion  of  the  melancholy  catastrophe.  General 
'Washington  on  the  19th  of  August  made  a  representation 
to  Congress  respecting  the  whole  business  for  their  consid-' 
eration,  and  soon  after  directed  that  Captain  Asgill  be  put 
on  his  parole  at  Morristown,  till  further  orders;  and  he 
was  allowed  the  indulgence  of  riding  for  his  health  arid 
recreation  several  miles  into  the  country  in  any  direction, 
even  within  a  few  miles  of  the  British  lines,  accompanied 
by  his  friend  Major  Gordon. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  General  Washington,  in  a  letter 
to  the  secretary  of  war,  expressed  his  private  opinion  that 
Captain  Asgill  ought  to  be  liberated  from  his  duresse,  and 
be  permitted  to  return  to  his  friends  in  England.  Suih- 


MILITAEY  JOURNAL.  17S2. 

cient  time  had  now  elapsed  since  the  arrest  of  Captain 
Asgill  for  the  distressing  intelligence  to  reach  his  parents, 
and  to  interest  the  attention  and  solicitude  of  almost  all 
Europe.  The  father  of  young  Asgill  was  languishing  with 
mortal  sickness.  Lady  Asgill,  in  the  agony  of  her  soul, 
with  her  family  in  the  deepest  distress  and  sorrow,  pros 
trated  themselves  at  the  feet  of  their  king  and  queen,  to 
implore  their  compassion  and  assistance.  She  next  had 
recourse  to  the  beneficence  of  the  illustrious  sovereigns  of 
France,  through  the  medium  of  the  celebrated  Count  de 
Vergennes,  though  the  two  nations  were  at  war.  Her 
incomparably  pathetic  and  eloquent  letter  could  not  fail 
of  producing  the  desired  effect:  it  reached  the  hearts,  and 
interested  the  sympathies  of  those  exalted  philanthropists 
to  whom  it  was  addressed.  A  letter  was  immediately 
despatched  from  Count  de  Yergennes  to  General  Wash 
ington,  dated  July  27th,  and  this  was  accompanied  by  that 
which  the  count  had  received  from  Lady  Asgill.  "Your 
excellency,"  says  the  count,  "will  not  read  this  letter  (Lady 
Asgill's)  without  being  extremely  affected.  It  thus  affected 
the  king  and  queen,  to  whom  I  communicated  it.  The 
goodness  of  their  majesties'  hearts  induces  them  to  desire 
that  the  inquietudes  of  an  unfortunate  mother  may  be 
calmed  and  her  tenderness  reassured. — There  is  one  con 
sideration,  sir,  which,  though  not  decisive,  may  have  an 
influence  on  your  resolution.  Captain  Asgill  is  doubtless 
your  prisoner,  but  he  is  among  those  whom  the  arms  of 
the  king  contributed  to  put  into  your  hands  at  York- 
town. — Though  this  circumstance  does  not  operate  as  a 
safeguard,  it,  however,  justifies  the  interest  I  permit  myself 
to  take  in  this  affair. — In  seeking  to  deliver  Mr.  Asgill  from 
tne  fate  which  threatens  him,  I  am  far  from  engaging  you 
to  seek  another  victim;  the  pardon,  to  be  perfectly  satis 
factory,  must  be  entire." — Copies  of  these  letters  being 
transmitted  with  one  from  his  excellency  to  Congress,  they 
resolved,  November  7th,  that  the  Commander-in-chief  be 
directed  to  set  Captain  Asgill  at  liberty.  A  more  grateful 
duty  could  scarcely  be  assigned ;  it  relieved  his  mind  from 
a  weight  which  had  long  oppressed  and  preyed  on  his 
spirits.  He  immediately  transmitted  to  Captain  Asgill  a 
copy  of  the  resolve  of  Congress,  accompanied  with  a  pass 
port  for  him  to  go  into  New  York,  and  also  a  letter  which 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

closes  as  follows:  "I  cannot  take  leave  of  }^ou,  sir,  without 
assuring  you  that,  in  whatever  light  my  agency  in  this 
unpleasant  affair  may  be  viewed,  I  was  never  influenced 
through  the  whole  of  it  by  sanguinary  motives,  but  by 
what  I  conceived  to  be  a  sense  of  my  duty,  which  loudly 
called  on  me  to  take  measures,  however  disagreeable,  to 
prevent  a  repetition  of  those  enormities  which  have  been 
the  subject  of  discussion.  And  that  this  important  end 
is  likely  to  be  answered  without  the  effusion  of  the  blood 
of  an  innocent  person  is  not  a  greater  relief  to  you  than 
it  is.  sir,  to 

u  Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

"GEORGE  WASHINGTON."* 

*  From  the  "Historical  and  Literary  Memoirs  and  Anecdotes,  selected  from 
the  Correspondence  of  Baron  de  Grimm  and  Diderot:" 

"  You  can  well  remember  the  general  interest  Sir Asgill  inspired, 

a  young  officer  in  the  English  guards,  who  was  made  prisoner  and  con 
demned  to  death  by  the  Americans  in  reprisal  for  the  death  of  Captain 
Huddy,  who  was  hanged  by  the  order  of  Captain  Lippincot.  The  public 
prints  all  over  Europe  resounded  with  the  unhappy  catastrophe,  which 
for  eight  months  impended  over  the  life  of  this  young  officer.  The  ex 
treme  grief  of  his  mother,  the  sort  of  delirium  which  clouded  the  mind 
of  his  sister  at  hearing  of  the  dreadful  fate  which  menaced  the  life  of  her 
brother,  interested  every  feeling  mind  in  the  fate  of  this  unfortunate 
family.  The  general  curiosity,  with  regard  to  the  events  of  the  war, 
yielded,  if  I  may  so  say,  to  the  interest  which  young  Asgill  inspired,  and 
the  first  question  asked  of  all  vessels  that  arrived  from  any  port  in  North 
America,  was  always  an  inquiry  into  the  fate  of  this  young  man.  It  is 
known  that  Asgill  was  thrice  conducted  to  the  foot  of  the  gibbet,  and 
that  thrice  General  Washington,  who  could  not  bring  himself  to  commit 
this  crime  of  policy  without  a  great  struggle,  suspended  his  punishment; 
his  humanity  and  justice  made  him  hope  that  the  English  general  would 
deliver  over  to  him  the  author  of  the  crime  which  Asgill  was  condemned 
to  expiate.  Clinton,  either  ill  obeyed,  or  insensible  to  the  fate  of  young 
Asgill,  persisted  in  refusing  to  deliver  up  the  barbarous  Lippincot.  In 
vain  the  king  of  England,  at  whose  feet  this  unfortunate  family  fell 
down,  had  given  orders  to  surrender  up  to  the  Americans  the  author  of 
a  crime  which  dishonored  the  English  nation;  George  111.  was  not 
obeyed.  In  vain  the  United  States  of  Holland  entreated  of  the  United 
States  of  America  the  pardon  of  the  unhappy  Asgill;  the  gibbet,  erected 
in  front  of  his  prison,  did  not  cease  to  oft'er  to  his  eyes  those  dreadful 
preparatives  more  awful  than  death  itself.  In  these  circumstances,  and 
almost  reduced  to  despair,  the  mother  of  the  unfortunate  victim  bethought 
herself  that  the  minister  of  a  king  armed  against  her  own  nation  might 
succeed  in  obtaining  that  which  was  refused  to  her  king.  Lady  Asgill 
wrote  to  the  Count  de  Vergennes  a  letter,  the  eloquence  of  which,  independ 
ently  of  oratorical  forms,  is  that  of  all  people  and  all  languages,  because 
it  derives  its  power  from  the  first  and  noblest  sentiments  of  our  nature. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

The  tour  of  duty  at  Dobbs'  ferry  having  fallen  to  our 
regiment,  we  marched  from  Nelson's  Point  on  the  24th, 

"The  two  memorials  which  are  subjoined,  merit  being  preserved  as 
historical  monuments. 

Letter  from  Lady  Asgill  to  the  Comte  de  Vergennes. 
"SiR:  If  the  politeness  of  the  French  court  will  permit  a  stranger  to 
address  it,  it  cannot  be  doubted  but  that  she  who  unites  in  herself  all 
the  more  delicate  sensations  with  which  an  individual  can  be  penetrated, 
will  be  received  favorably  by  a  nobleman  who  reflects  honor  not  only  on 
his  nation,  but  on  human  nature.  The  subject  on  which  I  implore  your 
assistance,  is  too  heart-rending  to  be  dwelt  on;  most  probably,  the 
public  report  of  it  has  already  reached  you;  this  relieves  me  from  the 
burthen  of  so  mournful  a  duty.  My  son,  my  only  son,  dear  to  me  as  he 
is  brave,  amiable  as  he  is  beloved,  only  nineteen  yeiirs  of  age,  a  prisoner 
of  war,  in  consequence  of  the  capitulation  of  Yorktown,  is  at  present 
confined  in  America  as  an  object  of  reprisal. — Shall  the  innocent  share 
the  fate  of  the  guilty?  Figure  to  yourself,  sir,  the  situation  of  a  family 
in  these  circumstances. .  Surrounded  as  I  am  with  objects  of  distress, 
bowed  down  by  fear  and  grief,  words  are  wanting  to  express  what  1  feel, 
and  to  paint  such  a  scene  of  misery:  my  husband,  given  over  by  his 
physicians  some  hours  before  the  arrival  of  this  news,  not  in  a  condition 
to  be  informed  of  it;  my  daughter  attacked  by  a  fever,  accompanied  wiih 
delirium;  speaKing  of  her  brother  in  tones  of  wildness,  and  without  an 
interval  of  reason,  unless  it  be  to  listen  to  some  circumstances  which 
may  console  her  heart.  Let  your  sensibility,  sir,  paint  to  you  my  pro 
found,  my  inexpressible  misery,  and  plead  in  my  favor;  a  word,  a  word 
from  you,  like  a  voice  from  Heaven,  would  liberate  us  from  desolation, 
from  the  last  degree  of  misfortune.  I  know  how  far  General  Washing 
ton  reveres  your  character.  Tell  him  only  that  you  wish  my  son  re 
stored  to  liberty,  and  he  will  restore  him  to  his  desponding  family ;  he 
will  restore  him  to  happiness.  The  virtue  and  courage  of  my  son  will 
justify  this  act  of  clemency.  His  honor,  sir,  led  him  to  America;  he 
was  born  to  abundance,  to  independence,  and  to  the  happiest  prospects. 
Permit  me,  once  more,  to  entreat  the  interference  of  your  high  influence 
in  favor  of  innocence,  and  in  the  cause  of  justice  and  humanity.  De 
spatch,  sir,  a  letter  from  France  to  General  Washington,  and  favor  me 
with  a  copy  of  it,  that  it  may  be  transmitted  from  hence.  I  feel  the 
whole  weight  of  the  liberty  taken  in  presenting  this  request;  but  I 
feel  confident,  whether  granted  or  not,  that  you  will  pity  the  distress 
by  which  it  was  suggested;  your  humanity  will  drop  a  tear  on  my  fault, 
and  blot  it  out  for  ever. 

"May  that  Heaven  which  I  implore  grant  that  you  may  never  need 
the  consolation  which  you  have  it  in  your  power  to  bestow  on 

"  THERESA  ASGILL." 

Second  Letter  of  Lady  Asgill  to  the  Comte  de  Vergennes. 
"Sm:  Exhausted  by  long  suffering,  overpowered  by  an  excess  of  un 
expected  happiness,  confined  to  my  bed  by  weakness  and  languor,  bent 


320 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 


crossed  the  river  at  King's  ferry,  and  on  the  25th  en 
camped  near  the  block-house  at  this  place.  This  after- 

to  the  earth  by  what  I  have  undergone,  my  sensibility  alone  could  sup 
ply  me  with  strength  sufficient  to  address  you. 

"Condescend,  sir,  to  accept  this  feeble  effort  of  my  gratitude.  It  has 
been  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  Almighty;  and  believe  me,  it  has  been  pre 
sented  with  the  same  sincerity  to  you,  sir,  and  to  your  illustrious  sover 
eigns  ;  by  their  august  and  salutary  intervention,  as  by  your  own,  a  son 
is  restored  to  me,  to  whom  my  own  life  was  attached.  I  have,  the 
sweet  assurance  that  my  vows  for  my  protectors  are  heard  by  Heaven, 
to  whom  they  are  ardently  offered ;  yes,  sir,  they  will  produce  their  effect 
before  the  dreadful  and  last  tribunal,  where  I  indulge  in  the  hope  that 
we  shall  both  appear  together;  you  to  receive  the  recompense  of  your 
virtues;  myself,  that  of  my  sufferings.  I  will  raise  my  voice  before  that 
imposing  tribunal,  I  will  call  for  those  sacred  registers  in  which  your 
humanity  will  be  found  recorded.  I  will  pray  that  blessings  may  be 
showered  on  your  head,  on  him  who,  availing  himself  of  the  noblest 
privilege  received  from  God — a  privilege  no  other  than  divine — has 
changed  misery  into  happiness,  has  withdrawn  the  sword  from  the  in 
nocent  head,  and  restored  the  worthiest  of  sons  to  the  most  tender  and 
unfortunate  of  mothers. 

"Condescend,  sir,  to  accept  this  last  tribute  of  gratitude  due  to  your 
virtuous  sentiments.  Preserve  this  tribute,  and  may  it  go  down  to  your 
posterity  as  a  testimony  of  your  sublime  and  exemplary  beneficence  to 
a  stranger,  whose  nation  was  at  war  with  your  own;  but  these  tender 
affections  have  not  been  destroyed  by  war.  May  this  tribute  bear  tes 
timony  to  my  gratitude  long  after  the  hand  that  expresses  it,  with  the 
heart  which  at  this  moment  only  vibrates  with  the  vivacity  of  grateful 
sentiments,  shall  be  reduced  to  dust;  even  to  the  last  day  of  my  exist 
ence,  it  shall  beat  but  to  offer  all  the  respect  and  all  the  gratitude  with 
which  it  is  penetrated.  "THERESA  -ASGILL." 

REMARKS. — The  Baron  de  Grimm  has  unfortunately  been  led  to  make 
an  erroneous  statement  respecting  the  treatment  of  Captain  Asgill, 
which  ought  in  justice,  to  be  corrected.  It  is  difficult  to  account  for  hie 
assertion  that,  "It  is  known  that  Asgill  was  thrice  conducted  to  the  foot 
of  the  gibbet,  and  thrice  General  Washington,  who  could  not  bring  him 
self  to  commit  this  crime  of  policy  without  a  great  struggle,  suspended 
bis  punishment;"  and  again,  "  the  gibbet,  erected  in  front  of  his  prison, 
did  not  cease  to  offer  to  his  eyes  those  dreadful  preparatives  more  awful 
than  death  itself."  I  can  with  the  fullest  confidence  affirm,  that  a  gibbet 
never  was  erected  for  Captain  Asgill  at  any  period  of  his  confinement,  and 
that  no  preparations  whatever  were  made  for  his  execution,  except  a  secure 
confinement  fora  short  period,  during  which  the  utmost  tenderness  and 
polite  civilities  were  bestowed  on  him,  and  for  these  he  expressed  his 
grateful  acknowledgments  in  his  letter  to  General  Washington.  It  would 
be  preposterous  to  suppose  that  the  commander-in-chief  could  act  a 
farcical  part  by  exhibiting  the  machines  of  death,  when  it  was  altogether 
problematical  whether  an  execution  would  be  the  final  resort,  and  surely 
nothing  could  be  less  characteristic  of  Washington,  than  wantonly  to 
torture  the  feelings  of  a  prisoner  with  the  horrors  of  death. 


MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1782. 

noon  a  flag  of  truce  arrived  here  from  New  York  with 
despatches  for  General  Washington,  which  were  immedi 
ately  forwarded  to  him. 

August  5th. — Flags  are  passing  and  repassing  from  this 
post  to  New  York  and  back  every  day,  and  several  gen 
tlemen  have  been  permitted  to  come  out  of  that  city.  By 
the  intelligence  which  they  bring,  corroborating  those 
which  we  receive  from  other  sources,  commissioners  are 
sent  from  the  court  of  London  to  Paris,  where  they  are  to 
meet  French  and  American  commissioners  for  the  import 
ant  purpose  of  negotiating  a  general  peace.  May  God 
grant  them  success  in  bringing  to  America  an  honorable 
peace  and  national  independence!  A  very  considerable 
number  of  deserters  have  come  out  from  New  York  within 
these  few  days  past. 

31st. — The  army  marched  from  their  different  quarters 
this  morning  and  encamped  at  Verplank's  point  in  the 
evening.  Part  of  the  troops  came  down  the  river  in  boats, 
which,  being  in  motion  and  in  regular  order  on  the  water, 
made  a  most  beautiful  appearance.  I  shall  to-morrow 
commence  a  journey  to  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  a  sum  of  money  at  the  American  Bank,  for  the 
payment  of  our  regiment. 

September  Wth. — I  returned  last  evening  from  Philadel 
phia,  where  I  met  my  very  respectable  friends  Dr.  Treat 
and  Dr.  Benney  of  the  hospital,  with  whom  I  dined. 
Drank  tea  and  spent  the  evening  with  Dr.  Andrew  Craige, 
our  apothecary-general.  The  next  day  dined  with  Mr. 
James  Lovell,  lieutenant  and  adjutant  of  our  regiment. 
Here  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  introduced  to  two  cele 
brated  characters,  Dr.  John  Jones,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
the  honorable  Robert  Morris,  the  great  American  financier. 
Dr.  Jones  formerly  resided  in  the  city  of  New  York,  where 
he  was  "distinguished  for  his  professional  merit,  urbanity 
of  manners,  and  moral  excellence."  As  a  surgeon,  Dr. 
Jones  is  considered  at  the  head  of  the  profession  in  the 
United  States,  and  his  reputation  has  been  considerably 
extended  by  a  valuable  work,  entitled,  "Plain  Remarks 
on  Wounds  and  Fractures"  which  he  published  in  the  year 
1775  for  the  particular  benefit  of  the  surgeons  of  our 
army,  and  which  has  been  received  with  universal  appro 
bation.  Mr.  Morris  stands  preeminent  as  a  citizen,  mer- 


322  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

chant  and  patriot,  and  the  public  are  greatly  indebted  to 
him  for  his  unrivaled  efforts  as  superintendent  of  the 
finances  of  the  United  States,  by  which  the  public  interest 
has  been  greatly  promoted.  I  waited  on  Major-General 
Lincoln,  secretary  at  war,  to  obtain  an  order  on  the  bank 
for  the  money  which  was  the  object  of  my  visit,  but  was 
disappointed,  as  the  state  of  the  bank  would  not  admit  of 
any  discount.  General  Lincoln  introduced  me  to  Mr. 
Osgood,  a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts. 

September  I4.th. — The  whole  army  was  paraded  under 
arms  this  morning  in  order  to  honor  his  Excellency  Count 
Rochambeau  on  his  arrival  from  the  southward.  The 
troops  were  all  formed  in  two  lines,  extending  from  the 
ferry,  where  the  count  crossed,  to  head-quarters.  A  troop 
of  horse  met  and  received  him  at  King's  ferry,  and  con 
ducted  him  through  the  line  to  General  Washington's 
quarters,  where,  sitting  on  his  horse  by  the  side  of  his 
excellency,  the  whole  army  marched  before  him,  and  paid 
the  usual  salute  and  honors.  Our  troops  were  now  in 
complete  uniform,  and  exhibited  every  mark  of  soldierly 
discipline.  Count  Kochambeau  was  most  highly  gratified 
to  perceive  the  very  great  improvement  which  our  army 
had  made  in  appearance  since  he  last  reviewed  them,  and 
expressed  his  astonishment  at  their  rapid  progress  in  mil 
itary  skill  and  discipline.  He  said  to  General  Washington, 
"You  have  formed  an  alliance  with  the  King  "of  Prussia. 
These  troops  are  Prussians."  Several  of  the  principal 
officers  of  the  F/ench  army,  who  have  seen  troops  of  dif 
ferent  European  nations,  have  bestowed  the  highest  enco 
miums  and  applause  on  our  army,  and  declared  that  they 
had  seen  none  superior  to  the  Americans. 

~L6th. — Dined  with  Major-General  Howe,  with  a  numbei 
of  officers  of  our  line,  and  on  the  17th  dined  with  Baron 
Steuben  in  company  with  Generals  Howe,  Patterson,  and 
a  number  of  French  officers.  The  baron  is  never  more 
happy  than  when  he  is  manifesting  his  generous  friend 
ship  and  benevolence. 

October. — Eight  battalions  have  been  selected  from  the 
army  to  perform  some  grand  manoeuvres  and  a  review. 
The  evolutions  and  firings  were  performed  this  day  with 
that  regularity  and  precision  wrhich  does  them  honor,  and 
which  received  the  full  approbation  of  the  numerous 


MILITAKY  JOURNAL,  1782.  323 

spectators,  and  of  the  American  and  French  officers  who 
were  present. 

30th. — At  reveille  on  the  26th  instant,  the  left  wing  of 
our  army,  under  the  command  of  General  Heath,  decamped 
from  Verplank's  point  and  marched  to  the  highlands ; 
took  our  lodging  in  the  woods,  without  covering,  and  were 
exposed  to  heavy  rain  during  a  night  and  day.  Thence 
we  crossed  the  Hudson  to  West  Point,  and  marched  over 
the  mountain  called  Butter  hill;  passed  the  night  in  the 
open  field,  and  the  next  day  reached  the  ground  where 
we  are  to  erect  log  huts  for  our  winter-quarters,  near 
New  Windsor. 

November  Wth. — I  attended  the  funeral  of  my  late 
worthy  friend,  Ensign  Trant.  This  young  gentleman  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  came  over  from  Ireland  about  two 
years  since,  and  on  his  arrival  in  Boston  was  appointed 
an  ensign  in  our  regiment.  Having  a  taste  for  military 
life,  he  had  acquired  considerable  reputation  as  an  officer, 
and  was  esteemed  for  his  amiable  temper  and  disposition, 
his  liberal  and  generous  sentiments,  and  his  polite  and 
gentlemanly  manners.  He  suffered  a  lingering  illness  of 
eight  months.  Renouncing  all  hope  of  recovery,  he  con 
quered  the  terrors  of  death,  and  acquired  a  remarkable 
degree  of  patience  and  resignation  during  the  last  weeks 
of  his  extreme  suffering.  His  remains  were  decently  in 
terred  in  the  garrison  at  West  Point,  and  were  followed 
to  the  grave  by  his  Excellency  General  Washington  and 
a  very  respectable  procession. 

A  melancholy  event  has  recently  been  announced  from 
South  Carolina — Colonel  John  Laurens,  a  man  of  estimable 
value,  has  been  slain  in  a  rencounter  with  the  enemy  near 
Charleston.  He  was  the  son  of  Henry  Laurens,  Esq.,  late 
president  of  Congress,  and  our  ambassador  to  Holland. 
He  had  been  employed  on  a  special  mission  to  France,  to 
obtain  a  loan  for  the  United  States,  in  which  he  was  suc 
cessful.  The  enemy  having  detached  a  party  into  the 
country  to  procure  provisions,  Colonel  Laurens,  ever  fore 
most  in  danger,  joined  the  party  of  continentals  as  a  vol 
unteer,  to  counteract  their  object,  and  while  advancing  on 
the  enemy  with  great  intrepidity,  he  received  a  mortal 
wound.  His  death  is  universally  lamented,  more  espe 
cially  at  this  late  period,  when  the  contest  is  supposed  to 


324  MILITARY  JOUENAL,  1782, 

be  near  a  termination.  No  eulogy  can  exceed  the  me.'it 
of  this  noble  and  very  useful  officer. 

A  very  extraordinary  and  melancholy  event  has  re 
cently  been  announced  from  England.  The  ship  called 
the  Royal  George,  of  one  hundred  and  eight  guns,  com 
manded  by  Admiral  Kempenfelt,  being  careened  on  one 
side  to  receive  some  necessary  repairs,  was  by  a  sudden 
gust  of  wind  forced  over,  and  her  gun-ports  being  open, 
she  instantly  filled  with  water,  and  went  to  the  bottom. 
The  admiral  himself  was  writing  at  his  table  in  the  cabin, 
and  with  about  one  thousand  souls  was  lost;  among  them 
were  about  three  hundred  women  and  children.  Admiral 
Kempenfelt  was  about  seventy  years  of  age,  and  was  con 
sidered,  in  point  of  professional  knowledge  and  judgment, 
one  of  the  first  naval  officers  in  Europe.  A  victualler 
alongside  was  swallowed  up  in  the  whirlpool  occasioned 
by  the  sinking  of  the  ship. 

The  campaign  is  now  brought  to  a  close,  and  no  glori 
ous  deeds  have  been  achieved ;  not  a  gun  has  been  lired 
between  the  two  armies  during  the  campaign,  and  the 
prospect  of  peace  is  so  favorable  and  encouraging,  that  our 
Congress  have  passed  a  resolve  to  discharge  a  considerable 
part  of  the  army  on  the  1st  day  of  January  next.  The 
supernumerary  officers  are  to  retire  on  the  establishment 
provided  by  Congress,  and  are  to  be  entitled  to  all  the 
emoluments  with  those  who  continue  in  service  till  peace 
shall  be  proclaimed. 

December  loth. — Dined  with  my  friends  Drs.  Townsend, 
Eustis  and  Adams,  at  the  hospital,  in  company  with  Gen 
erals  Gates  and  Howe,  and  their  aids,  Dr.  Cochran,  our 
surgeon-general,  and  several  other  officers.  Our  enter 
tainment  was  ample  and  elegant. 

19th. — I  partook  of  another  entertainment  at  Dr.  Eustis' 
quarters,  New  Boston.  Our  guests  were  General  Mc- 
Dougall  and  his  aids,  Colonels  Jackson,  Crane,  &c.  Gen 
eral  Alexander  McDougall  is  the  son  of  a  Scotchman, 
whose  employment  was  that  of  a  milk-man  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  and  the  son  was  sometimes  his  assistant.  The 
general  at  an  early  period  was  distinguished  among  those 
who  had  adopted  the  whig  principles,  and  known  to  be  a 
zealous  advocate  for  freedom.  Principle  and  a  sense  of 
duty  led  him  to  the  field  of  contest,  and  in  August,  1776, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782.  £25 

be  was  by  Congress  appointed  a  brigadier-general,  and  by 
his  intelligence  and  active  spirit  he  has  acquired  a  reputa 
ble  standing  as  a  general  officer.  He  displays  much  of 
the  Scotch  character,  is  affable  and  facetious,  often  in 
dulging  in  pleasantry,  and  adverting  to  his  national  pecu 
liarities  and  family  origin;  at  the  close  of  which  he  adds, 
"Now,  gentlemon,  you  have  got  the  history  of  Sawney 
McDougall,  the  milk-mon's  son." 

25th, — The  time  is  now  approaching  when,  according  to 
a  resolve  of  Congress,  a  reduction  of  the  army  is  to  take 
place,  and  it  is  optional  with  me  to  continue  till  peace  is 
actually  proclaimed  and  our  army  entirely  disbanded,  or 
to  retire  from  service  on  the  new  establishment,  by  which 
I  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  emoluments  with  those  who 
remain.  Having  duly  deliberated  on  the  subject,  I  have 
come  to  the  resolution  of  bidding  a  final  adieu  to  the 
scenes  of  military  life,  and  have  resigned  my  commission 
in  favor  of  Dr.  Shute.  It  is  with  inexpressible  reluctance 
that  I  contemplate  a  separation  from  numerous  friends 
with  whom  I  have  so  long  associated  in  the  most  harmc 
nious  and  pleasing  intercourse.  Engaged  in  the  same 
glorious  and  honorable  cause,  encountering  together  the 
same  perils,  suffering  unparalleled  hardships  and  priva 
tions,  and  participating  in  the  most  interesting  scenes  and 
events,  our  mutual  and  cherished  attachments  are  no  less 
ardent  th,an  the  ties  of  brotherly  affection.  Friendship 
formed  under  such  circumstances,  and  cemented  by  purity 
of  sentiment,  must  prove  as  lasting  as  our  days  on  earth, 
and  we  shall  ever  cherish  a  sincere  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  companions  of  our  military  career.  It  will  be  to 
me  a  source  of  infinite  satisfaction  during  the  remainder 
of  my  days,  that  I  have  shared  in  the  toils  and  perils  of 
war  during  seven  years  and  a  half,  in  defence  of  my  country 
and  its  freedom,  and  that  the  mighty  struggle  terminates 
in.  peace  and  the  establishment  of  our  national  Independ 
ence.  This  momentous  event  should  be  considered  as  a 
rich  blessing  which  Providence  bestows  on  us  for  the 
benefit  of  the  present  and  many  future  generations.  It  is 
incumbent  on  me  to  express  my  unfeigned  gratitude  to 
the  All-wise  Author  and  Preserver  of  men,  that  he  has 
been  pleased  to  confer  on  me  innumerable  blessings,  and 


326  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1783. 

preserved  my  life  and  health  during  a  long  period  while 
exposed  to  the  greatest  hardships  and  imminent  perils. 

January  ls£,  1783. — This  day  I  close  my  military  career, 
and  quit  for  ever  the  toils  and  vicissitudes  incident  to  the 
storms  of  war.  To  my  military  companions  I  bid  a  final 
adieu,  and  hope  to  enjoy  in  future  the  blessings  which 
attend  a  virtuous  course  of  domestic  life.  I  retire  with 
honorable  testimonials  from  very  respectable  authority  of 
my  punctuality  and  faithful  performance  of  duty  in  the 
various  situations  which  I  have  been  called  to  occupy, 
and  with  a  heart  fraught  with  grateful  recollections  of  the 
kindness  and  affectionate  intercourse  which  I  have  expe 
rienced  from  my  superiors,  and  from  my  numerous  com 
panions  and  associates.  While  I  congratulate  my  country 
on  the  momentous  event  by  which  we  are  about  to  be 
elevated  to  the  rank  of  an  Independent  Nation,  most  cor 
dially  do"  I  proffer  my  sympathy  for  the  many  lives  of 
inestimable  value  which  have  been  sacrificed  during  this 
ever-memorable  contest. 

NOTE. — As  the  materials  for  the  remainder  of  this  work  were  col 
lected  and  arranged  after  I  returned  from  the  army,  I  have  thought  it 
proper  to  change  my  running  title  from  "Military  Journal"  to  "Revo- 
tionary  Annals." 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS, 


SOCIETY   OP   CINCINNATI. 

WHILE  contemplating  a  final  separation  of  the  officers 
of  the  army,  the  tenderest  feelings  of  the  heart  had  their 
afflicting  operations.  It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  General 
Knox,  and  with  the  acquiescence  of  the  commander-in- 
chief,  that  an  expedient  was  devised  by  which  a  hope  is 
entertained  that  their  long-cherished  friendship  and  social 
intercourse  may  be  perpetuated,  and  that  at  future  periods 
they  may  annually  communicate,  and  revive  a  recollection 
of  the  bonds  by  which  they  were  connected.  It  was  on 
the  10th  day  of  May,  1783,  when  the  officers  held  their 
first  meeting,  at  which  the  Baron  Steuben,  the  senior  offi 
cer,  presided,  that  Major-General  Knox,  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Hand,  Brigadier-General  Huntington  and  Captain 
Shaw,  were  chosen  to  revise  the  proposals  for  the  institu 
tion,  and  prepare  a  copy  to  be  laid  before  the  next  meeting, 
at  Baron  Steuben's  quarters,  on  the  13th,  when  the  plan 
for  establishing  a  society  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

"It  having  pleased  the  Supreme  Governor  of  the  Universe,  in  the  dis 
position  of  human  affairs,  to  cause  the  separation  of  the  Colonies  of 
North  America  from  the  dominion  of  Great  Britain,  and,  after  a  bloody 
conflict  of  eight  years,  to  establish  them  Free,  Independent,  and  Sover 
eign  States,  connected  by  alliances,  founded  on  reciprocal  advantages, 
with  some  of  the  greatest  princes  and  powers  of  the  earth: 

"To  perpetuate,  therefore,  as  well  the  remembrance  of  this  vast  event, 
as  the  mutual  friendships  which  have  been  formed,  under  the  pressure 
of  common  danger,  and  in  many  instances  cemented  by  the  blood  of  the 
parties,  the  officers  of  the  American  army  do  hereby,  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  associate,  constitute  and  combine  themselves  into  one  Society 
of  Friends,  to  endure  so  long  as  they  shall  endure,  or  any  of  their  eldest 
male  posterity,  and  in  failure  thereof,  the  collateral  branches,  who  may 
be  judged  worthy  of  becoming  its  supporters  and  members. 

"The  officers  of  the  American  army  having  generally  been  taken  from 
the  citizens  of  America,  possess  high  veneration  for  the  character  of  that 


328  KEVOLUTIONAKY  ANNALS,  1783. 

illustrious  Roman,  Lucius  QUINTIUS  CINCINNATUS,  and  being  resolved  to 
follow  his  example,  by  returning  to  their  citizenship,  they  think  they  may 
with  propriety  denominate  themselves  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

"The  following  principles  shall  be  immutable,  and  form  the  basis  of 
the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati: 

"An  incessant  attention  to  preserve  inviolate  those  exalted  rights  and 
liberties  of  human  nature,  for  which  they  have  fought  and  bled,  and 
without  which  the  high  rank  of  a  rational  being  is  a  curse  instead  of  a 
blessing. 

"An  unalterable  determination  to  promote  and  cherish,  between  the 
respective  states,  that  union  and  national  honor,  so  essentially  necessary 
to  their  happiness,  and  the  future  dignity  of  the  American  empire. 

"To  render  permanent  the  cordial  affection  subsisting  among  the  offi 
cers,  this  spirit  will  dictate  brotherly  kindness  in  all  things,  and  particu 
larly  extend  to  the  most  substantial  acts  of  beneficence,  according  to  the 
ability  of  the  society,  towards  those  officers  and  their  families  who  un 
fortunately  may  be  under  the  necessity  of  receiving  it. 

"The  general  society  will,  for  the  sake  of  frequent  communications, 
be  divided  into  state  societies,  and  these  again  into  such  districts  as  shall 
be  directed  by  the  state  society. 

"  The  societies  of  the  districts  to  meet  as  often  as  shnll  be  agreed  on 
by  the  state  society;  those  of  the  state  on  the  4th  clay  of  July,  annually, 
or  oftener  if  they  shall  find  it  expedient;  and  the  general  society  on  the 
first  Monday  in  May,  annually,  so  long  as  they  shall  deem  it  necessary, 
and  afterwards,  at  least  once  in  every  three  years. 

"At  each  meeting,  the  principles  of  the  institution  will  be  fully  con 
sidered,  and  the  best  measures  to  promote  them  adopted. 

"The  state  societies  to  have  a  president,  vice-president,  secretary, 
treasurer,  and  assistant-treasurer,  to  be  chosen  annually  by  a  majority 
of  votes,  at  the  stnte  meeting. 

"In  order  to  form  funds  which  may  be  respectable,  and  assist  the  un 
fortunate,  each  officer  shall  deliver  to  the  treasurer  of  the  state  society 
one  month's  pay,  which  shall  remain  for  ever,  to  the  use  of  the  state 
society;  the  interest  only  of  which,  if  necessary,  to  be  appropriated  to 
the  relief  of  the  unfortunate. 

"  The  society  shall  have  an  order,  by  which  its  members  shall  be 
known  and  distinguished,  which  shall  be  a  medal  of  gold,  of  a  proper 
size  to  receive  the  emblems,  and  be  suspended  by  a  deep-blue  ribband, 
two  inches  wide,  edged  with  white,  descriptive  of  the  union  of  America 
and  France." 

His  Excellency  General  Washington  officiated  as  presi 
dent  of  the  general  society  from  its  institution,  in  1783, 
till  his  death,  as  did  Major-General  B.  Lincoln  of  the 
society  of  Massachusetts.  Since  his  demise,  in  1810,  Gov 
ernor  Brooks  has  been  annually  elected  president.  Some 
attempts  were  made  at  the  first  general  meeting,  in  1784, 
to  alter  the  constitution  of  the  society,  in  order  that  the 
hereditary  succession  of  the  members  should  be  done 
away,  without  substituting  any  means  of  perpetuating  the 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  329 

existence  of  the  society.  But  a  majority  of  the  state  so 
cieties  did  not  approve  this  change,  and  the  institution 
remains  as  it  was  originally  adopted  in  1783.  The  society 
of  Massachusetts  was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  in 
the  year  1806,  and  their  by-laws  provide  that  persons  who 
claim  admission  as  members  in  right  of  succession  to  a 
deceased  member  shall  be  the  oldest  male  heirs,  or  collat 
eral  branches  not  under  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  must 
make  his  application  to  the  standing  committee  in  writing, 
and  will  be  voted  in  by  ballot. 

In  December,  1782,  the  officers  of  the  army  being  ap 
prehensive  that  they  should  be  disbanded  before  their 
accounts  should  be  liquidated  and  the  engagements  of 
government  complied  with,  resolved  to  memorialize  Con 
gress  on  the  subject,  and  Major-General  McDougall,  Col 
onel  Ogden  and  Colonel  Brooks  were  deputed  as  a 
committee  to  wait  on  that  honorable  body,  requesting  their 
attention  to  the  distresses  under  which  the  army  labored, 
and  to  solicit  payment  of  the  money  actually  due  to  the 
army,  and  security  for  the  commutation  of  half-pay,  stipu 
lated  by  the  resolve  of  October,  1780,  for  a  sum  in  gross, 
which  they  conceive  would  be  less  objectionable  than  the 
half-pay  establishment.  Subsequent  to  this  proceeding,  a 
report  was  circulated  in  camp  that  Congress  did  not  mean 
to  comply  with  their  resolves  respecting  half-pay,  &o. 
This  operated  very  powerfully  on  the  minds  of  the  officers 
of  the  army,  and  occasioned  them  to  forward  an  address 
to  Congress,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  brethren, 
the  soldiers.  They  asked  for  a  supply  of  money,  to  be 
forwarded  immediately  to  the  army,  for  a  settlement  of 
the  accounts  of  arrearages  of  pay,  and 'security  for  what  is 
due ;  for  a  commutation  of  half  for  full  pay  for  a  certain 
number  of  years,  or  for  a  sum  in  gross,  as  should  be  agreed 
on;  for  a  settlement  of  accounts,  for  deficiencies  of  rations 
and  compensations,  and  of  the  deficiencies  of  clothing  and 
compensations.  They  conclude  their  address  in  these 
words:  "The  pressure  of  evils  and  injuries  in  the  course 
of  seven  long  years  have  made  their  condition,  in  many 
instances,  wretched;  they  therefore  entreat  that  Congress, 
to  convince  the  army  and  the  world  that  the  Independence 
of  America  shall  not  be  placed  on  the  ruin  of  any  partic- 


330  KEVOLUTIONAKY  ANNALS,  1783. 

ular  class  of  citizens,  will  point  out  a  mode  for  immediate 
redress;  and  that  the  disabled  officers  and  soldiers,  with 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  have  lost  or  may 
lose  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country,  may  be  in 
cluded,  and  that  some  mode  be  pointed  out  for  the  event 
ual  payment  of  those  soldiers  who  are  the  subjects  of  the 
resolution  of  Congress  of  the  15th  of  May,  1778."  In 
consequence  of  this  address,  Congress  passed  the  following 
resolves,  namely: 

"That  the  superintendent  of  finance  be  directed,  conformably  to  the 
measures  already  tnken  for  that  purpose,  so  soon  as  the  state  of  the 
public  finances  will  permit,  to  make  such  payment,  and  in  such  manner 
as  he  shall  think  proper,  till  the  further  order  of  Congress. 

"With  respect  to  the  second  article  of  the  address,  the  settlement  of 
accounts  of  the  arrearages  of  pay,  that  the  several  states  be  called  on  to 
complete,  without  delay,  the  settlements  with  their  respective  lines  of 
the  army,  up  to  the  first  day  of  August,  1780;  and  that  the  superintend 
ent  of  finance  take  such  measures  as  shall  appear  to  him  most  proper 
for  effecting  the  settlement  from  this  period.  That  the  troops  of  the 
United  States,  in  common  with  all  creditors  of  the  same,  have  an  un 
doubted  right  to  expect  security  for  what  shall  be  found  due,  and  Con 
gress  will  make  every  effort  in  their  power  to  obtain  from  the  respective 
states  substantial  funds,  adequate  to  the  object  of  funding  the  whole 
debt  of  the  United  States,  and  will  enter  on  an  immediate  and  full  con 
sideration  of  the  nature  of  such  funds,  and  the  most  likely  mode  of  ob 
taining  them." 

The  remainder  of  the  report  of  the  committee,  on  the 
subject  of  the  address,  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  five. 

General  McDougall  and  Colonel  Ogden,  in  a  letter  to 
General  Knox,  made  known  to  the  army  their  success ; 
and  Colonel  Brooks  returned  to  camp  to  inform  them, 
verbally,  of  the  prospect  of  commutation,  or  of  obtaining 
an  equivalent  for  half-pay,  which  they  had  proposed  in 
their  address.  General  McDougall  continued  at  Congress 
on  the  army  business,  while  the  impression  of  the  report 
which  occasioned  the  address  to  Congress,  however  false, 
remained  on  the  minds  of  some  officers;  notwithstanding 
Congress  were  doing  all  that  the  circumstances  of  the  states 
would  admit  to  relieve  and  satisfy  the  army. 

March  10th. — In  the  midst  of  this  perturbed  state  of 
affairs  in  camp,  and  while  the  day  of  final  separation  was 
supposed  to  be  near  at  hand,  the  following  anonymous 
letter,  calculated  to  exasperate  the  passions  of  the  moment, 
was  privately  circulated: 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  33^ 

«TO   THE    OFFICERS    OF   THE    ARMY. 

"GENTLEMEN:  A  fellow-soldier,  whose  interest  and  affections  bind 
him  strongly  to  you — whose  past  sufferings  have  been  as  great,  and 
whose  future  fortune  may  be  as  desperate,  as  yours — would  beg  leave 
to  address  you. 

"Age  has  its  claims,  and  rank  is  not  without  its  pretensions  to  advise; 
but,  though  unsupported  by  both,  he  flatters  himself  that  the  plain  lan 
guage  of  sincerity  and  experience  will  neither  be  unheard  nor  unregarded. 

"Like  many  of  you  he  loved  private  life,  and  left  it  with  regret.  He 
left  it,  determined  to  retire  from  the  field,  with  the  necessity  that  called 
him  to  it,  and  not  till  then — not  till  the  enemies  of  his  country,  the 
slaves  of  power,  and  the  hirelings  of  injustice,  were  compelled  to  aban 
don  their  schemes,  and  acknowledge  America  as  terrible  in  arms  as  she 
had  been  humble  in  remonstrance.  With  this  object  in  view,  he  has 
long  shared  in  your  toils  and  mingled  in  your  dangers. — He  has  ft-ltthe 
cold  hand  of  poverty  without  a  murmur,  and  has  seen  the  insolence  of 
wealth  without  a  sigh. — But,  too  much  under  the  direction  of  his  wishes, 
and  sometimes  weak  enough  to  mistake  desire  for  opinion,  he  has  till 
lately — very  lately — believed  in  the  justice  of  his  country.  He  hoped 
that,  as  the  clouds  of  adversity  scattered,  and  as  the  sunshine  of  peace 
and  better  fortune  broke  in  on  us,  the  coldness  and  severity  of  govern 
ment  would  relax,  and  that  more  than  justice,  that  gratitude  would  blaze 
forth  on  those  hands  which  had  upheld  her,  in  the  darkest  stages  of  her 
passage  from  impending  servitude  to  acknowledged  independence.  But 
faith  has  its  limits,  as  well  as  temper,  and  there  are  points  beyond  which 
neither  can  be  stretched,  without  sinking  into  cowardice  or  plunging 
into  credulity. — This,  my  friends,  I  conceive  to  be  your  situation :  hur 
ried  to  the  very  edge  of  both,  another  step  would  ruin  you  for  ever. — 
To  be  tame  and  unprovoked  when  injuries  press  hard  on  you,  is  more 
than  weakness;  but  too  look  up  for  kinder  usage,  without  one  manly 
effort  of  your  own,  would  fix  your  character,  and  show  the  world  how 
richly  you  deserve  those  chains  you  broke.  To  guard  against  this  evil, 
let  us  take  a  review  of  the  ground  on  which  we  now  stand,  and  thence 
carry  our  thoughts  forward  for  a  moment,  into  the  unexplored  field  of 
experiment. 

"After  a  pursuit  of  seven  long  years,  the  object  for  which  we  set  out 
is  at  length  brought  within  our  reach — yes,  my  friends,  that  suffering 
courage  of  yours  was  active  once:  it  has  conducted  the  United  States 
of  America  through  a  doubtful  and  bloody  war.  It  has  placed  her  in 
the  chair  of  independency,  and  peace  returns  again  to  bless — who?  A 
country  willing  to  redress  your  wrongs,  cherish  your  worth,  and  reward 
your  services?  A  country  courting  your  return  to  private  life,  with  tears 
of  gratitude  and  smiles  of  admiration,  longing  to  divide  with  you  that 
independency  which  your  gallantry  has  given,  and  those  riches  which 
your  wounds  have  preserved?  Is  this  the  case?  or  is  it  rather  a  country 
that  tramples  on  your  rights,  disdains  your  cries,  and  insults  your  dis 
tresses?  Have  you  not  more  than  once  suggested  your  wishes,  and 
made  known  your  wants  to  Congress? — wants  and  wishes  which  grati 
tude  and  policy  should  have  anticipated  rather  than  evaded;  and  have 
you  not  lately,  in  the  meek  language  of  entreating  memorials,  begged 
from  their  justice  what  you  could  no  longer  expect  from  their  favor1* 
22 


332  REVOLUTIONAKY  ANNALS,  1783. 

How  have  vou  been  answered?  Let  the  letter  which  you  are  called  to 
consider  to-morrow  reply. 

ulf  this,  then,  be  your  treatment,  while  the  swords  you  wear  are  ne 
cessary  for  the  defence  of  America,  what  have  you  to  expect  from  peace, 
when  your  voice  shall  sink,  and  your  strength  dissipate  by  division? — 
when  those  very  swords,  the  instruments  and  companions  of  your  glory, 
shall  be  taken  from  your  sides,  and  no  remaining  mark  of  military  dis 
tinction  be  left  but  your  wants,  infirmities,  and  scars?  Can  you,  then, 
consent  to' be  the  only  sufferers  by  this  revolution,  and,  retiring  from  the 
field,  grow  old  in  poverty,  wretchedness,  and  contempt?  Can  you  con 
sent  to  wade  through  the  vile  mire  of  dependency,  and  owe  the  misera 
ble  remnant  of  that  life  to  charity  which  has  hitherto  been  spent  in 
honor?  If  you  can,  go — and  carry  with  you  the  jest  of  tories  and  the 
scorn  of  whigs;  the  ridicule,  and,  what  is  worse,  the  pity  of  the  world. 
Go — starve,  and  be  forgotten!  But  if  your  spirit  should  revolt  at  this; 
if  you  have  sense  enough  to  discover,  and  spirit  enough  to  oppose 
tyranny  under  whatever  garb  it  may  assume;  whether  it  be  the  plain 
coat  of  republicanism,  or  the  splendid  robe  of  royalty;  if  you  have  not 
yet  learned  to  discriminate  between  a  people  and  a  cause,  between  men 
and  principles — awake;  attend  to  your  situation,  and  redress  yourselves. 
If  the  present  moment  be  lost,  every  future  effort  is  in  vain;  and  your 
threats  then,  will  be  as  empty  as  your  entreaties  now. 

"I  would  advise  you,  therefore,  to  come  to  some  final  opinion  on  what 
you  can  bear,  and  what  you  will  suffer.  If  your  determination  be  in  any 
proportion  to  your  wrongs,  carry  your  appeal  from  the  justice,  to  the 
iears  of  government.  Change  the  milk-and-water  style  of  your  last 
memorial;  assume  a  bolder  tone — decent,  but  lively,  spirited  and  deter 
mined,  and  suspect  the  man  who  would  advise  to  more  moderation  and 
longer  forbearance.  Let  two  or  three  men  who  can  feel  as  well  as  write, 
be  appointed  to  draw  up  your  last  remonstrance;  for  1  would  no  longer 
give  it  the  suing,  soft,  unsuccessful  epithet  of  memorial.  Let  it  be  rep 
resented  in  language  that  will  neither  dishonor  you  by  its  rudeness,  nor 
betray  you  by  its  fears,  what  has  been  promised  by  Congress,  and  what 
has  been  performed — how  long  and  how  patiently  you  have  suffered — 
how  little  you  have  asked,  and  how  much  of  that  little  has  been  denied. 
Tell  them  that,  though  you  were  the  first,  and  would  wish  to  be  the  last 
to  encounter  danger,  though  despair  itself  can  never  drive  you  into  dis 
honor,  it  may  drive  you  from  the  field;  that  the  wound  often  irritated, 
and  never  healed,  may  at  length  become  incurable;  and  that  the  slight 
est  mark  of  indignity  from  Congress  now  must  operate  like  the  grave, 
and  part  you  for  ever;  that  in  any  political  event,  the  army  has  its  alter 
native.  If  peace,  that  nothing  shall  separate  you  from  your  arms  but 
death;  if  war,  that,  courting  the  auspices  and  inviting  the  directions  of 
your  illustrious  leader,  you  will  retire  to  some  unsettled  country,  smile 
in  your  turn,  and  'mock  when  their  fear  cometh.'  But  let  it  represent, 
also,  that  should  they  comply  with  the  request  of  your  late  memorial, 
it  would  make  you  more  happy,  and  them  more  respectable;  that  while 
war  should  continue,  you  would  follow  their  standard  into  the  field,  and 
when  it  came  to  an  end,  you  would  withdraw  into  the  shade  of  private 
life,  and  give  the  world  another  subject  of  wonder  and  applause;  an 
army  victorious  over  its  enemies — victorious  over  itself." 


KEVOLUTIONAEY  ANNALS,  1783.  333 

Alarmed  and  distressed  with  this  vile  attempt  to  stimu 
late  the  army  to  rash  and  dangerous  proceedings,  the 
Commander-in-chief  noticed  in  general  orders  the  anony 
mous  address  with  his  pointed  disapprobation,  and,  with 
the  view  of  counteracting  its  effects,  requested  that  the 
general  and  field  officers,  and  one  from  each  company,  and 
a  proper  representation  from  the  staff  of  the  army,  would 
assemble  on  the  15th  instant,  to  hear  the  report  of  the 
committee  deputed  by  the  army  to  Congress.  The  next 
day  a  second  anonymous  paper  from  the  same  pen  appeared 
as  follows: 

"Till  now,  the  commander-in-chief  has  regarded  the  steps  you  have 
taken  for  redress  with  good  wishes  alone;  his  ostensible  silence  has 
authorized  your  meetings,  and  his  private  opinion  sanctified  your  claims. 
Had  he  disliked  the  object  in  view,  would  not  the  same  sense  of  duty 
which  forbade  you  from  meeting  on  the  third  day  of  the  week,  have 
forbidden  you  from  meeting  on  the  seventh?  Is  not  the  same  subject 
held  up  for  your  discussion?  and  has  it  not  passed  the  seal  of  office,  and 
taken  all  the  solemnity  of  an  order?  This  will  give  system  to  your 
proceedings,  and  stability  to  your  resolves.  It  will  ripen  speculation  into 
fact,  and  while  it  adds  to  the  unanimity,  it  cannot  possibly  lessen  the 
independency  of  your  sentiments.  It  may  be  necessary  to  add,  on  this 
subject,  that,  from  the  injunction  with  which  the  general  orders  close, 
every  man  is  at  liberty  to  conclude  that  the  report  to  be,  made  to  head 
quarters  is  intended  for  Congress.  Hence  will  arise  another  motive  for 
that  energy  which  has  been  recommended;  for,  can  you  give  the  lie  to  the 
pathetic  descriptions  and  the  more  alarming  predictions  of  our  friends?"* 

*  With  respect  to  the  author  of  the  Newburgh  anonymous  letters, 
suspicion  has  ever  rested  on  John  Armstrong,  who  at  the  time  of  their 
appearance  was  a  major  in  the  army,  and  for  some  time  aid-de-camp  to 
Major-General  Gates.  Though  many  circumstances  conspired  to  fix  this 
suspicion  on  Major  Armstrong  and  a  few  confederates,  the  real  fact  has 
never  been  established  till  recently.  In  the  last  number  of  the  United 
States  Magazine,  published  in  New  York,  General  Armstrong  has  an 
nounced  himself  to  be  the  author  of  these  notorious  letters.  In  justi 
fication  of  his  motives,  he  maintains  "that  they  were  written  by  himself 
at  the  solicitation  of  his  friends,  as  the  chosen  organ  to  express  the  sen 
timents  of  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  were  only  an  honest  and  manly, 
though  perhaps  an  indiscreet  endeavor  to  support  public  credit  and  do 
justice  to  a  long-suffering,  patient,  and  gnllant  soldiery."  In  the  s;ime 
publication,  General  Armstrong  has  thought  proper  to  risk  his  reputation 
on  the  bold  and  unqualified  assertion,  that  the  slander  propagated  and 
believed  for  half  a  century,  that  two  distinguished  officers  of  the  revo 
lution  had  conspired  to  put  down  the  commander-in-chief,  is  an  impudent 
and  vile  falsehood  from  beginning  to  end.  The  young  reader,  who  may 
not  be  apprised  of  the  circumstances  on  which  the  evidence  of  this  con 
spiracy  rests,  is  referred  to  the  biography  of  Generals  Lee,  Gates  and 
Con  way,  in  the  Appendix. 


334  KEVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

On  the  15th  instant,  the  convention  of  officers  assembled, 
and  General  Gates  presided.  The  Commander-in-chief 
delivered  to  them  the  following  very  interesting  and  feel 
ing  address: 

"  GENTLEMEN  :  By  an  anonymous  summons,  an  attempt  has  been  made 
to  convene  you  together.  How  inconsistent  with  the  rules  of  propriety, 
how  unmilitary,  and  how  subversive  of  all  order  and  discipline,  let  the 
good  sense  of  the  army  decide. 

"In  the  moment  of  this  summons,  another  anonymous  production 
was  sent  into  circulation,  addressed  more  to  the  feelings  and  passions 
than  to  the  judgment  of  the  army.  The  author  of  the  piece  is  entitled 
to  much  credit  for  the  goodness  of  his  pen;  and  I  could  wish  he  had  as 
much  credit  for  the  rectitude  of  his  heart;  for,  as  men  see  through  dif 
ferent  optics,  and  are  induced  by  the  reflecting  faculties  of  the  mind  to 
use  different  means  to  attain  the  same  end,  the  author  of  the  address 
should  have  had  more  charity  than  to  'mark  for  suspicion  the  man  who 
should  recommend  moderation  and  longer  forbearance;'  or,  in  other 
words,  who  should  not  think  as  he  thinks,  and  act  as  he  advises.  But 
he  h;id  another  plan  in  view,  in  which  candor  and  liberality  of  sentiment, 
regard  to  justice  and  love  of  country,  have  no  part;  arid  he  was  right  to 
insinuate  the  darkest  suspicion  to  effect  the  blackest  design.  That  the 
address  was  drawn  with  great  art,  and  is  designed  to  answer  the  most 
insidious  purposes;  that  it  is  calculated  to  impress  the  mind  with  an  idea 
of  premeditated  injustice  in  the  sovereign  power  of  the  United  States, 
and  rouse  all  those  resentments  which  must  unavoidably  flow  from  such 
a  belief;  that  the  secret  mover  of  this  scheme,  whoever  he  may  be,  in 
tended  to  take  advantage  of  the  passions,  while  they  were  warmed  by 
the  recollection  of  past  distresses,  without  giving  time  for  cool,  deliber 
ative  thinking,  ancj.  that  composure  of  mind  which  is  so  necessary  to  give 
dignity  and  stability  to  measures,  is  rendered  too  obvious,  by  the  mode 
of  conducting  the  business,  to  need  other  proof  than  a  reference  to  the 
proceedings. 

"Thus  much,  gentlemen,  I  have  thought  it  incumbent  on  me  to  observe 
to  you,  to  show  on  what  principles  I  opposed  the  irregular  and  hasty 
meeting  which  was  proposed  to  have  been  held  on  Tuesday  last,  and 
not  because  I  wanted  a  disposition  to  give  you  every  opportunity,  con 
sistently  with  your  own  honor  and  the  dignity  of  the  army,  to  make 
known  your  grievances.  If  my  conduct  heretofore  has  not  evinced  to 
you  that  I  have  been  a  faithful  friend  to  the  army,  my  declaration  of  it 
at  this  time  would  be  equally  unavailing  and  improper.  But  as  I  was 
among  the  first  who  embarked  in  the  cause  of  our  common  country;  as 
I  have  never  left  your  side  one  moment,  but  when  called  from  you  on 
public  duty ;  as  I  have  been  the  constant  companion  and  witness  of  your 
distresses,  and  not  among  the  last  to  feel  and  acknowledge  your  merits; 
as  I  have  ever  considered  my  own  military  reputation  as  inseparably 
connected  with  that  of  the  army;  as  my  heart  has  ever  expanded  with 
joy  when  I  have  heard  its  praises,  and  my  indignation  has  arisen  when 
the  mouth  of  detraction  has  been  opened  against  it;  it  can  scarcely  be 
supposed  at  this  last  stage  of  the  war  that  I  am  indifferent  to  its  inter- 


KEVOLUTIONAKY  ANNALS,  1783.  335 

ests.  But  how  are  they  to  be  promoted?  The  way  is  plain,  says  the 
anonymous  addresser:  'If  war  continues,  remove  into  the  unsettled 
country;  there  establish  yourselves,  and  leave  an  ungrateful  country  to 
defend  itself!'  But  who  are  they  to  defend? — our  wives,  our  children, 
our  farms  and  other  property  which  we  leave  behind  us?  or  in  this  state 
of  hostile  separation,  are  we  to  take  the  two  first — the  latter  cannot  be 
removed — to  perish  in  a  wilderness,  with  hunger,  cold  and  nakedness? 

"'If  peace  takes  place,  never  sheath  your  swords,'  says  he.  'till  you 
have  obtained  full  and  ample  justice.'  This  dreadful  alternative  of 
either  deserting  our  country  in  the  extremest  hour  of  her  distress,  or 
turning  our  arms  against  it,  which  is  the  apparent  object,  unless  Congress 
can  be  compelled  into  instant  compliance,  has  something  so  shocking  in 
it,  that  humanity  revolts  at  the  idea.  My  God!  what  can  this  writer 
have  in  view,  by  recommending  such  measures  ?  Can  he  be  a  friend  to 
the  army?  Can  he  be  a  friend  to  this  country?  Rather,  is  he  not  an 
insidious  foe — some  emissary,  perhaps,  from  New  York — plotting  the 
ruin  of  both,  by  sowing  the  seeds  of  discord  and  separation  between  the 
civil  and  military  powers  of  the  continent?  And  what  a  compliment 
does  he  pay  our  understandings,*  when  he  recommends  measures,  in 
either  alternative,  impracticable  in  their  nature?  But  here,  gentlemen,  I 
will  drop  the  curtain,  because  it  would  be  as  imprudent  in  me  to  assign 
my  reasons  for  this  opinion,  as  it  would  be  insulting  to  your  conception 
to  suppose  you  stood  in  need  of  them.  A  moment's  reflection  will  con 
vince  every  dispassionate  mind  of  the  physical  impossibility  of  carrying 
either  proposal  into  execution.  There  might,  gentlemen,  be  an  impro 
priety  in  my  taking  notice,  in  this  address  to  you,  of  an  anonymous  pro 
duction;  but  the  manner  in  which  this  performance  has  been  introduced 
to  the  army;  the  effect  it  was  intended  to  have,  together  with  some 
other  circumstances,  will  amply  justify  iny  observations  on  the  tendency 
of  this  writing. 

"With  respect  to  the  advice  given  by  the  author,  to  suspect  the  mnn 
who  shall  recommend  moderate  measures  and  longer  forbearance,  I 
spurn  it,  as  every  man  who  regards  that  liberty  and  reveres  that  justice 
for  which  we  contend,  undoubtedly  must;  for  if  men  are  to  be  precluded 
from  offering  their  sentiments  on  a  matter  which  may  involve  the  most 
serious  and  alarming  consequences  that  can  invite  the  consideration  of 
mankind,  reason  is  of  no  use  to  us.  The  freedom  of  speech  may  be 
taken  away,  and,  dumb  and  silent,  we  may  be  led,  like  sheep  to  the 
slaughter.  I  cannot  in  justice  to  my  own  belief,  and  what  1  have  great 
reason  to  conceive  is  the  intention  of  Congress,  conclude  this  address 
without  giving  it  as  my  decided  opinion,  that  that  honorable  body  enter 
tain  exalted  sentiments  of  the  services  of  the  army,  and,  from  a  full  con 
viction  of  its  merits  and  sufferings,  will  do  it  complete  justice.  That 
their  endeavors  to  discover  and  establish  funds  for  this  purpose  have 
been  unwearied,  and  will  not  cease  till  they  have  succeeded,  I  have 
not  a  doubt. 

"But,  like  all  other  large  bodies,  where  there  is  a  variety  of  different 
interests  to  reconcile,  their  determinations  are  slow.  Why  then  should 
we  distrust  them?  and  in  consequence  of  this  distrust,  adopt  measures 
which  may  cast  a  shade  over  that  glory  which  has  been  so  justly  ac 
quired,  **«d  tarnish  the  reputation  of  an  army  which  is  celebrated  through 


336  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

all  Enrnpe  for  its  fortitude  and  patriotism?  And  for  what  is  this  done* 
— to  bring  the  object  we  seek  nearer?  No  ;  most  certainly,  in  my  opin 
ion,  it  will  cast  it  at  a  greater  distance.  For  myself,  (and  I  take  no 
merit  in  giving1  the  assurance,  being  induced  to  it  from  principles  of 
gratitude,  veracity,  and  justice,  and  a  grateful  sense  of  the  confidence 
you  have  ever  placed  in  me,)  a  recollection  of  the  cheerful  assistance 
and  prompt  obedience  I  have  experienced  from  you,  under  every  vicissi 
tude  of  fortune,  and  the  sincere  affection  I  feel  for  an  army  I  have  so 
long  had  the  honor  to  command,  will  oblige  me  to  declare,  in  this  pub 
lic  arid  solemn  manner,  that  in  the  attainment  of  compute  justice  for  all 
your  toils  and  dangers,  and  in  the  gratification  of  every  wish,  so  far  as 
may  be  done  consistently  with  the  great  duty  I  owe  my  country,  and 
those  powers  we  are  bound  to  respect,  you  may  freely  command  my 
services  to  the  utmost  extent  of  my  abilities. 

"While  I  give  you  these  assurances,  and  pledge  myself,  in  the  most 
unequivocal  manner,  to  exert  whatever  abilities  I  am  possessed  of  in 
your  favor,  let  me  entreat  you,  gentlemen,  on  your  part,  not  to  take  any 
measures  which,  viewed  in  the  calm  light  of  reason,  will  lessen  the  dig 
nity  and  sully  the  glory  you  have  hitherto  maintained.  Let  me  request 
you  to  rely  on  the  plighted  faith  of  your  country,  and  place  a  full  confi 
dence  in  the  purity  of  the  intentions  of  Congress;  that,  previous  to  your 
dissolution  as  an  army,  they  will  cause  all  your  accounts  to  be  fairly 
liquidated,  as  directed  in  the  resolutions  which  were  published  to  you 
two  days  ago;  and  that  they  will  adopt  the  most  effectual  measures  in 
their  power  to  render  ample  justice  to  you  for  your  faithful  and  merito 
rious  services.  And  let  me  conjure  you  in  the  name  of  our  common 
country,  as  you  value  your  own  sacred  honor;  as  you  respect  the  rights 
of  humanity;  and  as  you  regard  the  military  and  national  character  of 
America;  to  express  your  utmost  horror  and  detestation  of  the  man  who 
wishes,  under  any  specious  pretences,  to  overturn  the  liberties  of  our 
country;  and  who  wickedly  attempts  to  open  the  flood-gates  of  civil 
discord,  and  deluge  our  rising  empire  in  blood. 

"By  thus  determining,  and  thus  acting,  you  will  pursue  the  plain  and 
direct  road  to  the  attainment  of  your  wishes;  you  will  defeat  the  insid 
ious  designs  of  our  enemies,  who  are  compelled  to  resort  from  open 
force  to  secret  artifice.  You  will  give  one  more  distinguished  proof  of 
unexampled  patriotism  and  patient  virtue,  rising  superior  to  the  pressure 
of  the  most  complicated  sufferings;  and  you  will,  by  the  dignity  of  your 
conduct,  afford  occasion  for  posterity  to  say,  when  speaking  of  the  glo 
rious  example  you  have  exhibited  to  mankind,  'Had  this  day  been 
wanting,  the  world  had  never  seen  the  last  stage  of  perfection  to  which 
human  nature  is  capable  of  attaining/" 

Having  finished  his  incomparable  and  very  efficacious 
address,  his  excellency  withdrew,  and  the  convention 
•unanimously  resolved  to  present  him  their  thanks,  and 
that  he  be  assured  "that  the  officers  reciprocate  his  affec 
tionate  expressions  with  the  greatest  sincerity  of  which 
the  human  heart  is  capable."  After  which,  General  Knox, 
Colonel  Brooks,  and  Captain  Howard  were  appointed  a 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  337 

committee  to  prepare  resolutions  expressive  of  the  business 
of  the  convention,  and  to  report  in  half  an  hour.  They 
reported,  and  the  convention — 

"Resolved,  unanimously,  That,  at  the  commencement  of  the  present 
war,  the  officers  of  the  American  army  engnged  in  the  service  of  their 
country  from  the  purest  love  and  attachment  to  the  rights  and  liberties 
or  human  nature;  which  motives  still  exist  in  the  highest  degree;  and 
that  no  circumstances  of  distress  or  danger  shall  induce  a  conduct  that 
may  tend  to  sully  the  reputation  and  glory  which  they  have  acquired,  at 
the  price  of  their  blood  and  eight  years'  faithful  services. 

"Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  army  continue  to  have  an  unshaken 
confidence  in  the  justice  of  Congress  and  their  country,  and  are  fully 
convinced  that  the  representatives  of  America  will  not  disband  or  dis 
perse  the  army  till  their  accounts  are  liquidated,  the  balances  accurately 
ascertained, and  adequate  funds  established  for  payment;  and  in  this  ar 
rangement  the  officers  expect  that  the  half-pay,  or  a  commutation  for  it, 
should  be  efficaciously  comprehended. 

"Resolved,  unanimously,  That  his  excellency  the  commander-in-chief 
be  requested  to  write  to  his  excellency  the  president  of  Congress,  earn 
estly  entreating  the  most  speedy  decision  of  that  honorable  body  on  the 
subject  of  our  late  address,  which  was  forwarded  by  a  committee  of  the 
army,  some  of  whom  are  waiting  on  Congress  for  the  result.  In  the 
alternative  of  peace  or  war,  this  event  would  be  highly  satisfactory,  and 
would  produce  immediate  tranquillity  in  the  rninds  of  the  army,  and 
prevent  any  further  machinations  of  designing  men,  to  sow  discord  be 
tween  the  civil  and  military  powers  of  the  United  States. 

"On  motion,  Resohcd,  unanimously,  That  the  officers  of  the  American 
army  view  with  abhorrence,  and  reject  with  disdain,  the  infamous  propo 
sitions  contained  in  a  late  anonymous  address  to  the  officers  of  the  army, 
and  resent  with  indignation  the  secret  attempts  of  some  unknown  per 
sons  to  collect  the  officers  together,  in  a  manner  totally  subversive  of 
all  discipline  and  good  order. 

"  Resohed,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  the  officers  of  the  army 
be  given  to  the  committee  who  presented  to  Congress  the  late  address 
of  the  army,  for  the  wisdom  and  prudence  with  which  they  have  con 
ducted  that  business;  and  that  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this  day  be 
transmitted  by  the  president  to  Major-General  McDougall;  and  that  he 
be  requested  to  continue  his  solicitations  at  Congress,  till  the  objects  of 
his  mission  are  accomplished." 

The  result  of  the  foregoing  proceedings  was,  "by  the 
commander-in-chief,  transmitted  to  Congress,  accompa 
nied  by  an  impressive  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  an 
extract : 

"That  in  the  critical  and  perilous  moment  when  the  last-mentioned 
communication  was  made,  there  was  the  utmost  danger  that  a  dissolu 
tion  of  the  army  would  have  token  place,  unless  measures  similar  to 
those  recommended  had  been  adopted,  will  not  admit  of  a  doubt.  That 
the  adoption  of  the  resolution  granting  half-pay  for  life  has  been  attended 


338  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

with  all  the  happy  consequences  I  had  foretold,  so  far  as  respected  the 
good  of  the  service,  let  the  astonishing-  contrast  between  the  state  of  the 
army  at  this  instant  and  at  the  former  period  determine. 

"And  thnt  the  establishment  of  funds,  and  security  of  the  payment  of 
all  the  just  demands  of  the  army  will  be  the  most  certain  means  of  pro 
serving  the  national  faith  and  future  tranquillity  of  this  extensive  conti 
nent,  is  my  decided  opinion.  By  the  preceding  remarks,  it  will  readily 
be  imagined  that,  instead  of  retracting  and  reprehending,  from  further 
experience  and  reflection,  the  mode  of  compensation  so  strenuously 
urged  in  the  inclosures,  I  am  more  and  more  confirmed  in  the  sentiment, 
and  if  in  the  wrong,  suffer  me  to  please  myself  with  the  grateful  delu 
sion.  For  if,  besides  the  simple  payment  of  their  wages,  a  further  com 
pensation  is  not  due  to  the  sufferings  and  sacrifices  of  the  officers,  then 
have  I  been  mistaken  indeed.  If  the  wh'ole  army  have  not  merited 
whatever  a  grateful  people  can  bestow,  then  have  I  been  beguiled  by 
prejudice,  and  built  opinion  on  the  basis  of  error.  If  this  country  should 
not  in  the  event  perform  every  thing  which  has  been  requested  in  the 
late  memorials  to  Congress,  then  will  my  belief  become  vain,  and  the 
hope  that  has  been  excited  void  of  foundation.  And  if,  as  has  been  sug 
gested  for  the  purpose  of  inflaming  their  passions,  the  officers  of  the 
army  are  to  be  the  only  sufferers  by  this  revolution;  if,  retiring  from  tlje 
field',  they  are  to  grow  old  in  poverty,  wretchedness,  and  contempt;  if 
they  are  to  wade  through  the  vile  rnire  of  dependency,  and  owe  the  mis 
erable  remnant  of  that  life  to  charity  which  has  hitherto  been  spent  in 
honor,  then  shall  I  have  learned  what  ingratitude  is — then  shall  I  have 
realized  a  tale  which  will  embitter  every  moment  of  rny  future  life.  But 
I  am  under  no  such  apprehensions;  a  country  rescued  by  their  arms 
from  impending  ruin,  will  never  leave  unpaid  the  debt  of  gratitude. 

"G.WASHINGTON." 

March  22d. — Congress  at  length  came  to  the  following 
resolutions: 

"Whereas  the  officers  of  the  several  lines,  under  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  did  by  their  late  memorial 
transmitted,  represent  to  Congress  that  the  half-pay  granted  by  sundry 
resolutions  was  regarded  in  an  unfavorable  light  by  the  citizens  of  some 
of  the  states,  who  would  prefer  a  compensation  for  a  limited  term  of 
years,  or  by  a  sum  in  gross,  to  an  establishment  for  life;  and  did,  on 
this  account,  solicit  a  commutation  of  their  half-pay  for  an  equivalent,  in 
one  of  the  modes  above  mentioned,  in  order  to  remove  all  subjects  of 
dissatisfaction  from  the  minds  of  their  fellow-citizens:  And  whereas 
Congress  are  desirous,  as  well  of  gratifying  the  reasonable  expectations 
of  the  officers  of  the  army,  as  of  removing  all  objections  which  may 
exist  in  any  part  of  the  United  States  to  the  principles  of  the  half-pay 
establishment,  for  which  the  faith  of  the  United  States  has  been  pledged; 
persuaded  that  these  objections  can  only  arise  from  the  nature  of  the 
compensation,  not  from  any  indisposition  to  compensate  those  whose 
services,  sacrifices,  and  sufferings,  have  so  justly  a  title  to  the  approba 
tion  and  rewards  of  their  country:  Therefore — 

"Resolved,  That  such  officers  as  are  now  in  service,  and  shall  continue 


KEVOLUTIONAKY  ANNALS,  1783.  339 

therein  to  the  end  of  the  war,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  amount  of 
five  years'  full  pay  in  money,  or  securities  on  interest  at  six  per  cent, 
per  annum,  as  Congress  shall  find  most  convenient,  instead  of  the  half, 
pay  promised  for  lite,  by  the  resolution  of  the  21st  day  of  October,  1780, 
the  said  securities  to  be  such  as  shall  be  given  to  the  creditors  of  the 
United  States.  Provided,  that  it  be  at  the  option  of  the  lines  of  the 
respective  states  to  accept  or  refuse  the  same.  And  provided,  also,  that 
their  election  shall  be  signified  to  Congress,  through  the  comrnander-in- 
chief,  from  the  lines  under  his  immediate  command  within  two  months; 
and  through  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Southern  army,  from  those 
under  his  command,  within  six  months,  from  the  date  of  this  resolution. 

"Th.'it  the  same  computation  shall  extend  to  the  corps  not  belonging 
to  the  lines  of  particular  states,  and  who  are  entitled  to  half-pay  for  life 
as  aforesaid;  the  acceptance  or  refusal  to  be  determined  by  corps,  and 
to  be  signified  in  the  same  manner,  and  within  the  same  time  as  above 
mentioned. 

"That  all  officers  belonging  to  the  hospital  department,  who  are  en 
titled  to  half-pay  by  the  resolution  of  the  17th  day  of  January,  1781, 
may  collectively  agree  to  accept  or  refuse  the  aforesaid  commutation, 
signifying  the  same  through  the  commander-in-chief,  within  six  months 
from  this  time. 

"That  such  officers  as  have  retired  at  different  periods,  entitled  to 
half-pay  for  life,  may,  collectively  in  each  state  in  which  they  are  inhab 
itants,  accept  or  refuse  the  same;  their  acceptation  or  refusal  to  be  sig 
nified  by  agents,  authorized  for  this  purpose,  within  six  months  from 
this  period.  That  with  respect  to  such  retiring  officers,  the  commuta 
tion,  if  accepted,  shall  be  in  lieu  of  whatever  may  be  now  due  to  them, 
since  the  time  of  their  retiring  from  service,  as  well  as  of  what  might 
hereafter  become  due,  and  that  as  soon  as  their  acceptance  shall  be  sig 
nified,  the  superintendent  of  finance  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  directed  to 
take  measures  for  the  settlement  of  their  accounts  accordingly,  and  to 
issue  to  them  certificates  bearing  interest  at  six  per  cent. 

"That  all  officers  entitled  to  half-pay  for  life,  not  included  in  the  pre 
ceding  resolution,  may  also  collectively  agree  to  accept  or  refuse  the 
aforesaid  commutation,  signifying  the  same  within  six  months  from 
this  time." 

April  18th. — The  commander-in-chief  thus  addressed 
the  army  on  the  cessation  of  hostilities: 

"The  commander-in-chief  orders  the  cessation  of  hostilities, between 
the  United  States  of  America  and  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  to  be  pub 
licly  proclaimed  to-morrow  at  twelve  o'clock,  at  the  New  Building;  and 
that  the  proclamation  which  will  be  communicated  herewith,  be  read  to 
morrow  evening,  at  the  head  of  every  regiment  and  corps  of  the  army; 
after  which,  the  chaplains,  with  the  several  brigades,  will  render  thanks 
to  Almighty  God  for  all  his  mercies,  particularly  for  his  overruling  the 
wrath  of  man  to  his  own  glory,  and  causing  the  rage  of  war  to  cease 
among  the  nations." 

Though  the  proclamation  before  alluded  to  extends  only 
to  the  prohibition  of  hostilities,  and  not  to  the  annuncia- 


340  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

tion  of  a  general  peace,  yet  it  must  afford  the  most  rational 
and  sincere  satisfaction  to  every  benevolent  mind,  as  it 
puts  a  period  to  a  long  and  doubtful  contest — stops  the 
effusion  of  human  blood — opens  the  prospect  to  a  more 
splendid  scene — and,  like  another  morning-star,  promises 
the  approach  of  a  brighter  day  than  has  hitherto  illumin 
ated  this  western  hemisphere!  On  such  a  happv  day — 
a  day  which  is  the  harbinger  of  peace — a  day  which  com 
pletes  the  eighth  year  of  the  war,  it  would  be  ingratitude 
not  to  rejoice;  it  would  be  insensibility  not  to  participate 
in  the  general  felicity. 

"The  eommander-in-chief,  far  from  endeavoring  to  stifle  the  feelings 
of  joy  in  his  own  bosom,  offers  his  most  cordial  congratulations  on  the 
occasion,  to  all  the  officers  of  every  denomination,  to  all  the  troops  of 
the  United  States  in  general,  and  in  particular  to  those  gallant  and  per- 
severing  men  who  had  resolved  to  defend  the  rights  of  their  invaded 
country  so  long  as  the  war  should  continue;  for  these  are  the  men  who 
ought  to  be  considered  as  the  pride  and  boast  of  the  American  army, 
and  who,  crowned  with  well-earned  laurels,  may  soon  withdraw  from 
the  field  of  glory  to  the  more  tranquil  walks  of  civil  life. 

"While  the  general  recollects  the  almost  infinite  variety  of  scenes 
through  which  we  have  passed  with  a  mixture  of  pleasure,  astonishment, 
and  gratitude — while  he  contemplates  the  prospects  before  us  with  rap 
ture — he  cannot  help  wishing  that  all  the  brave  men,  of  whatever  con 
dition  they  may  be,  who  have  shared  in  the  toils  and  dangers  of  effecting 
this  glorious  revolution,  of  rescuing  millions  from  the  hand  of  oppression, 
and  of  laying  the  foundation  of  a  great  empire,  might  be  impressed  with 
a  proper  idea  of  the  dignified  part  they  have  been  called  to  act,  under 
the  smiles  of  Providence,  on  the  stage  of  human  affairs;  for  happy,  thrice 
happy,  shall  they  be  pronounced  hereafter,  who  have  contributed  any 
thing,  who  have  performed  the  meanest  office  in  erecting  this  stupendous 
fabric  of  Freedom  and  Empire^  on  the  broad  basis  of  independency;  who 
have  assisted  in  protecting  the  rights  of  human  nature,  and  establishing 
an  asylum  for  the  poor  and  oppressed  of  all  nations  and  religions. 

"The  glorious  task  for  which  we  first  flew  to  arms  being  thus  accom 
plished — the  liberties  of  our  country  being  fully  acknowledged  and 
firmly  secured  by  the  smiles  of  Heaven  on  the  purity  of  our  cause,  and 
the  hoiu'st  exertions  of  a  feeble  people,  determined  to  be  free,  against 
a  powerful  nation  disposed  to  oppress  them — and  the  character  of  those 
who  have  persevered  through  every  extremity  of  hardship,  suffering, 
and  danger,  being  immortalized  by  the  illustrious  appellation  of  the 
Pulriut  Army — nothing  now  remains  but  for  the  actors  of  this  mighty 
scene  to  preserve  a  perfect,  unvarying  consistency  of  character  through 
the  very  last  act;  to  close  the  drama  with  applause;  and  to  retire  from 
the  milit  iry  theatre  with  the  same  approbation  of  angels  and  men,  which 
have  crowned  all  their  former  virtuous  actions. 

''For  this  purpose,  no  disorder  or  licentiousness  must  be  tolerated; 
every  considerate  and  well-disposed  soldier  must  remember  it  will  be 


KEVOLUTIONAEY  ANNALS,  1783. 

absolutely  necessary  to  wait  with  patience  till  peace  shall  be  declared, 
or  Congress  shall  be  enabled  to  take  proper  measures  for  the  security 
of  the  public  stores,  &c.  So  soon  as  these  arrangements  shall  be  made, 
the  general  is  confident  there  will  be  no  delay  in  discharging,  with  every 
mark  of  distinction  and  honor,  all  the  men  enlisted  for  the  war,  who 
will  then  have  faithfully  performed  their  engagements  with  the  public. 
The  general  has  already  interested  himself  in  their  behalf;  and  he  thinks 
he  need  not  repeat  the  assurances  of  his  disposition  to  be  useful  to  them 
on  the  present,  and  every  other  proper  occasion.  In  the  mean  time,  he 
is  determined  that  no  military  neglects  or  excesses  shall  go  unpunished 
while  he  retains  the  command  of  the  army. 

"The  adjutant-general  will  have  such  working  parties  detailed  to  as 
sist  in  making  the  preparation  for  a  general  rejoicing  as  the  chief  en 
gineer,  with  the  army,  shall  call  for;  and  the  quarter-master-general  will 
also  furnish  such  materials  as  he  may  want.  The  quarter-master-general 
will,  without  delay,  procure  such  a  number  of  discharges  to  be  printed 
as  will  be  sufficient  for  all  the  men  enlisted  for  the  war;  he  will  please 
to  apply  to  head-quarters  for  the  form. 

"An  extra  ration  of  liquor  to  be  issued  to  every  man  to-morrow,  to 
drink  perpetual  peace,  independence  and  happiness  to  the  United  States  of 
America" 

The  officers  of  the  army,  by  their  committee,  prepared 
the  following  address  to  the  commander-in-chief: 

"Sm:  It  is  difficult  for  us  to  express  the  regret  we  feel  at  being 
obliged  again  to  solicit  your  excellency's  attention  and  patronage.  Next 
to  the  anguish  which  the  prospect  of  our  own  wretchedness  excites  in 
our  breasts,  is  the  pain  which  arises  from  the  knowledge  of  your  anxiety 
on  account  of  those  men  who  have  been  the  sharers  of  your  fortunes, 
and  have  had  the  honor  of  being  your  companions  through  the  various 
vicissitudes  of  the  war.  Nothing,  therefore,  but  necessity  could  induce 
us  to  a  representation  which  we  know  must  give  you  concern. 

"Your  excellency  has  so  intimate  a  knowledge  of  the  condition  of  the 
army,  as  to  render  a  particular  delineation  unnecessary.  As  you  have 
been  a  witness  of  our  sufferings  during  a  war  uncommon  in  its  nature, 
and  unparalleled  in  many  circumstances  attending  it;  so  you  are  now,  sir, 
no  less  a  witness  of  the  unequal  burden  which  has  fallen  on  us,  from 
the  want  of  that  provision  to  which,  from  our  assiduous  and  unremitting 
services,  we  conceive  we  are  entitled.  Having  recently  expressed  our 
sense  of  what  was  due  to  our  distress;  having  repeated  to  your  excel 
lency  the  confidence  we  had  that  our  accounts  would  be  liquidated,  the 
balances  ascertained,  and  adequate  funds  provided  for  payment,  previous 
to  our  being  dispersed  or  disbanded;  having  seen  with  pleasure  the 
approbation  which  Congress  gave  our  reliance,  it  is  with  a  mixture  of 
astonishment  and  chagrin  that  we  view  the  late  resolve  of  Congress,  by 
which  the  soldiers  for  the  war,  and  a  proportionate  number  of  officers, 
are  to  be  furloughed  without  any  one  of  those  important  objects  being 
accomplished;  and,  to  complete  the  scene  of  woe,  are  to  be  compelled 
to  leave  the  army  without  the  means  of  defraying  the  debts  we  have 
necessarily  incurred  in  the  course  of  service,  or  even  of  gratifying  those 
menials  in  the  pittance  which  is  their  due ;  much  less  to  carry  with  us 


342  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

that  support  and  comfort  to  our  families,  of  which,  from  our  long  mili 
tary  services,  they  have  been  deprived.  No  less  exposed  to  the  insults 
of  the  meanest  followers  of  the  army,  than  to  the  arrests  of  the  sheriff — 
deprived  of  the^ability  to  assist  our  families,  and  without  an  evidence 
that  any  thing  is  due  to  us  for  our  services,  and  consequently  without 
the  least  prospect  of  obtaining  credit  for  even  a  temporary  subsistence, 
till  we  can  get  into  business — to  what  quarter  can  we  look?  We  take 
the  liberty  to  say  this,  sir,  only  to  your  excellency;  and,  from  the  sin 
cerity  of  our  hearts,  we  do  it  no  less  from  a  persuasion  of  the  efficacy 
of  your  further  efforts  in  our  favor,  than  from  the  kind  assurances  you 
have  been  pleased  to  give  us  of  your  support. 

"To  your  excellency,  then,  we  make  one  appeal,  and  in  the  most 
solemn  manner,  from  that  abhorrence  of  oppression  and  injustice  which 
first  unsheathed  our  swords;  from  the  remembrance  of  the  common 
dangers  through  which  we  have  passed;  and  from  the  recollection  of 
those  astonishing  events  which  have  been  effected  by  our  united  eflfotts 
— permit  us  to  solicit  your  further  aid,  and  to  entreat  that  the  order  of 
the  2d  instant,  founded  on  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  26th  of  May  last, 
may  be  suspended  or  varied  in  its  operation,  so  far  as  that  no  officer  or 
soldier  be  obliged  to  receive  a  furlough  till  that  honorable  body  can  be 
apprised  of  the  wretched  situation  into  which  the  army  must  be  plunged 
by  a  conformity  to  it;  that  your  excellency  will  endeavor  to  prev.-iil  on 
Congress — nay,  that  on  the  principles  of  common  justice,  you  will  insist 
that  neither  officer  nor  soldier  be  compelled  to  leave  the  field  till  a  liqui 
dation  of  accounts  can  be  effected,  till  the  balances  are  ascertained,  cer 
tificates  for  the  sums  due  given,  including  the  commutation  of  halt-pay 
to  the  officers  and  gratuity  of  eighty  dollars  to  the  soldiers;  and  till  a 
supply  of  money  can  be  furnished,  sufficient  to  carry  us  from  the  field 
of  glory,  with  honor  to  ourselves  and  credit  to  our  country.  We  still 
wish  to  believe  that  that  country,  to  which  we  have  been  so  long  devoted, 
will  never  look  with  indifference  on  the  distresses  of  those  of  her  sons 
who  have  so  essentially  contributed  to  the  establishment  of  freedom, 
the  security  of  property,  and  the  rearing  of  an  empire. 

"In  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  generals  and  officers  commanding 
regiments  and  corps,  in  the  cantonment  on  Hudson's  river, 
"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  highest  respect, 

"Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 
"July  5th,  1783."  "W.  HEATH,  Major-General,  President. 

To  the  foregoing  address  General  Washington  was 
pleased  to  make  an  affectionate  reply,  in  which,  among 
other  things,  he  observes,  that  as  furloughs  in  all  services 
are  considered  as  a  matter  of  indulgence  and  not  of  com 
pulsion — as  Congress,  he  is  persuaded,  entertain  the  best 
disposition  towards  the  army — and  as  he  apprehends  in  a 
short  time  the  two  principal  articles  of  complaint  will  be 
removed — he  will  not  hesitate  to  comply  with  the  wishes 
of  the  army  with  respect  to  furloughs,  &c.  He  cannot 
but  hope,  he  observes,  that  the  notes  will  soon  arrive,  and 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  343 

that  the  settlement  of  accounts  may  be  completed  in  a  very 
few  days.  In  the  mean  time,  he  shall  have  the  honor  of 
laying  the  sentiments  of  the  generals  and  officers  before 
Congress;  they  are  expressed  in  so  decent,  candid  and 
affecting  a  manner,  that  he  is  certain  every  mark  of  atten 
tion  will  be  paid  to  them.  In  his  letter  to  the  president 
of  Congress,  inclosing  the  address  of  the  officers,  and  his 
answer,  his  excellency  observes: 

"  These  inclosnres  will  explain  the  distresses  which  resulted  from  the 
measures  now  carrying  into  execution,  in  consequence  of  the  resolution 
of  the  26th  of  May;  but  the  sensibility,  occasioned  by  a  parting  scene, 
under  such  peculiar  circumstances,  will  not  admit  of  description !  While 
I  consider  it  a  tribute  of  justice  on  this  occasion  to  mention  the  temper 
ate  and  orderly  behavior  of  the  whole  army,  and  particularly  the  accom 
modating  spirit  of  the  officers,  in  arranging  themselves  to  the  command 
of  the  battalions,  which  will  be  composed  of  the  three  years'  men;  per 
mit  me  to  recall  to  mind  all  their  former  sufferings  and  merits,  and  to 
recommend  their  reasonable  request  to  the  early  and  favorable  notice 
of  Congress." 

19^.< — On  the  completion  of  eight  years  from  the  memor 
able  battle  of  Lexington,  the  proclamation  of  the  Congress 
for  a  cessation  of  hostilities  was  published  at  the  door  of 
the  public  building,  followed  by  three  huzzas-',  after  which, 
a  prayer  was  offered  to  the  Almighty  Euler  of  the  world, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ganno,  and  an  anthem  was  performed 
by  voices  and  instruments. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  about  eighty  new-levy  soldiers  of 
the  Pennsylvania  line,  who  had  been  stationed  at  Lancas 
ter,  in  defiance  of  their  officers,  marched  to  Philadelphia 
to  seek  a  redress  of  their  supposed  grievances  from  the 
executive  council  of  the  state.  They  proceeded  to  the 
barracks  in  the  city,  where  were  quartered  some  other 
soldiers,  who  joined  them,  amounting  to  about  three  hun 
dred  in  the  whole.  The  day  following,  these  insurgent 
troops,  with  fixed  bayonets  and  drums  beating,  marched 
to  the  state-house,  the  seat  of  Congress  and  of  the  supreme 
executive  council  of  Pennsylvania.  They  placed  sentinels 
at  every  door,  sent  in  a  written  message  to  the  president 
and  council,  and  threatened  to  let  loose  an  enraged 
soldiery  on  them,  if  they  were  not  gratified  as  to  their 
demands  within  twenty  minutes.  Though  no  other  in 
sult  was  offered  to  Congress,  this  duresse  continued  about 
three  hours. 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

Congress  resolved  that  the  authority  of  the  United 
States  had  been  grossly  insulted  by  the  armed  soldiers ^ 
that  their  committee  confer  with  the  executive  council; 
and  that  in  case  it  should  appear  to  the  committee  that 
there  is  no  satisfactory  ground  for  expecting  adequate 
exertions  by  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  for  supporting  the 
dignity  of  the  federal  government,  the  president,  on  the 
advice  of  the  committee,  should  summon  the  members  of 
Congress  to  meet  on  Thursday,  the  26th,  at  Trenton  or 
Princeton,  and  that  the  secretary  at  war  should  communi 
cate  to  the  commander-in-chief  the  state  and  disposition  of 
the  mutineers,  that  he  might  take  immediate  measures  for 
suppressing  them.  Congress  now  found  it  expedient  to 
separate,  and  reassemble  at  Princeton.  The  commander- 
in-chief,  on  receiving  information  of  this  shameful  outrage, 
instantly  detached  fifteen  hundred  men,  under  command 
of  Major-Gen eral  Howe,  to  quell  the  mutiny  and  punish 
the  most  guilty.  Before  his  arrival,  however,  they  had 
dispersed  without  bloodshed.  A  number  were  brought 
to  trial,  and  two  sentenced  to  suffer  death,  and  four  others 
to  receive  corporeal  punishment.  The  commander-in- 
chief,  on  this  occasion,  addressed  the  president  of  Con 
gress  in  the  feeling  language  which  follows: 

"While  I  suffer  the  most  poignant  distress  in  observing  that  a  handful 
of  men,  contemptible  in  numbers,  and  equally  so  in  point  of  service,  if 
the  veteran  troops  from  the  southward  have  not  been  seduced  by  their 
example,  and  who  are  not  worthy  to  be  called  soldiers,  should  disgrace 
themselves  and  their  country,  as  the  Pennsylvania  mutineers  have  done, 
by  insulting  the  sovereign  authority  of  the  United  States,  and  that  of 
their  own;  I  feel  an  inexpressible  satisfaction,  that  even  this  behavior 
cannot  stain  the  name  of  the  American  soldiery.  It  cannot  be  imputable 
to,  or  reflect  dishonor  on  the  army  at  large;  but,  on  the  contrary,  it  will, 
by  the  striking  contrast  it  exhibits,  hold  up  to  public  view  the  other 
troops  in  the  most  advantageous  point  of  light.  On  taking  all  the  cir 
cumstances  into  consideration,  I  cannot  sufficiently  express  my  surprise 
and  indignation  at  the  arrogance,  the  folly,  and  the  wickedness  of  the 
mutineers;  nor  can  I  sufficiently  admire  the  fidelity,  the  bravery  and 
patriotism,  which  must  for  ever  signalize  the  unsullied  character  of  the 
other  corps  of  our  army.  For  when  we  consider  that  these  Pennsylva 
nia  levies,  who  have  now  mutinied,  are  recruits,  and  soldiers  of  a  day, 
who  have  not  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  war,  and  who  can  have 
in  reality  very  few  hardships  to  complain  of;  and  when  we  at  the  same 
time  recollect  that  those  soldiers  who  have  lately  been  furloughed  from 
this  army  are  the  veterans  who  have  patiently  endured  hunger,  naked 
ness,  and  cold;  who  have  suffered  and  bled  without  a  murmur,  and  who, 


REVOLUTIONAKY  ANNALS,  1783.  345 

with  perfect  good  order,  have  retired  to  their  homes,  without  a  settle 
ment  of  their  accounts,  or  a  farthing  of  money  in  their  pockets;  we  shall 
be  as  much  astonished  at  the  virtues  of  the  latter,  as  we  are  struck  with 
horror  and  detestation  at  the  proceedings  of  the  former;  and  every  can- 
did  mind,  without  indulging  ill-grounded  prejudices,  will  undoubtedly 
make  the  proper  discrimination." 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1783,  General  Washington 
issued  his  farewell  orders  to  the  armies  of  the  United 
States.  Having  taken  notice  of  the  proclamation  of  Con 
gress  of  October  18th,  he  said: 

"It  only  remains  for  the  commander-in-chief  to  address  himself  once 
more,  and  that  for  the  last  time,  to  the  armies  of  the  United  States, 
however  widely  dispersed  the  individuals  who  composed  them  may  be, 
and  to  bid  them  an  affectionate,  a  long  farewell.  But  before  the  com 
mander-in-chief  takes  his  final  leave  of  those  he  holds  most  denr,  he 
wishes  to  indulge  himself  a  few  moments  in  calling  to  mind  a  slight 
review  of  the  past.  He  will  then  take  the  liberty  of  exploring  with  his 
military  friends  their  future  prospects — of  advising  the  general  line  of 
conduct  which,  in  his  opinion,  ought  to  be  pursued,  and  he  will  conclude 
the  address  by  expressing  the  obligations  he  feels  himself  under  for  the 
spirited  and  able  assistance  he  has  experienced  from  them  in  the  per 
formance  of  an  arduous  office. 

"A  contemplation  of  the  complete  attainment,  at  a  period  earlier  than 
could  have  been  expected,  of  the  object  for  which  we  contended,  against 
so  formidable  a  power,  cannot  but  inspire  us  with  astonishment  and 
gratitude.  The  disadvantageous  circumstances,  on  our  part,  under  which 
the  war  was  undertaken,  can  never  be  forgotten.  The  signal  interposi 
tions  of  Providence,  in  our  feeble  condition,  were^  such  as  could  scarcely 
escape  the  attention  of  the  most  unobserving;  while  the  unparalleled 
perseverance  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  through  almost  every 
possible  suffering  and  discouragement,  for  the  space  of  eight  long  years, 
was  little  short  of  a  standing  miracle." 

His  closing  words  are:  "And  being  now  to  conclude 
these  his  last  public  orders,  to  take  his  ultimate  leave  in 
a  short  time  of  the  military  character,  and  to  bid  adieu  to 
the  armies  he  has  so  long  had  the  honor  to  command,  he 
can  only  again  offer  in  their  behalf  his  recommendations 
to  their  grateful  country,  and  his  prayers  to  the  God  of 
armies.  May  ample  justice  be  done  them  here,  and  may 
the  choicest  of  Heaven's  favors,  both  here  and  hereafter, 
attend  those  who,  under  the  divine  auspices,  have  secured 
innumerable  blessings  for  others!  With  these  wishes,  and 
this  benediction,  the  commander-in-chief  is  about  to  retire 
from  service.  The  curtain  of  separation  will  soon  be 
drawn,  and  the  military  scene  to  him  will  be  closed  for 
ever." — The  definitive  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  on  the 


846  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

23d  of  September,  and  Congress,  having  ratified  it,  they 
issued  a  proclamation  to  disband  their  army.  This  pro 
clamation  purports,  "that  part  of  the  army  which  stood 
engaged  to  serve  during  the  war,  and  by  several  acts  of 
Congress  had  been  furloughed,  should  be  absolutely  dis 
charged  after  the  3d  of  November  from  said  service,  and 
that  the  further  service  in  the  field  of  the  officers  deranged, 
and  on  furlough,  are  now  dispensed  with,  and  they  have 
permission  to  retire  from  service,  no  more  to  be  called  to 
command,"  &c.  In  their  proclamation,  Congress  give 
their  thanks  to  the  army  for  their  exertions  in  the  cause 
of  America  and  the  common  rights  of  mankind.  The 
mode  of  disbanding  the  army  was  well  calculated  to  pre 
vent  any  disorders,  which  might  have  been  the  conse 
quence  of  dismissing  a  large  number  of  men  in  a  body. 
The  advice  of  their  beloved  commander-in-chief,  and  the 
resolves  of  Congress  to  pay  and  compensate  them  in  such 
manner  as  the  ability  of  the  United  States  would  permit, 
operated  to  keep  them  quiet  and  prevent  tumult.  Painful 
indeed  was  the  parting  scene;  no  description  can  be  ade 
quate  to  the  tragic  exhibition.  Both  officers  and  soldiers, 
long  unaccustomed  to  the  affairs  of  private  life,  turned 
loose  on  the  world  to  starve  and  to  become  a  prey  to  vul 
ture  speculators.  Never  can  that  melancholy  day  be  for 
gotten  when  friends,  companions  for  seven  long  years  in 
joy  and  in  sorrow,  were  torn  asunder,  without  the  hope 
of  ever  meeting  again,  and  with  prospects  of  a  miserable 
subsistence  in  future.  Among  other  incidents,  peculiarly 
affecting  on  this  occasion,  were  the  lamentations  of  women 
and  children,  earnestly  entreating  that  those  with  whom 
they  had  been  connected  in  the  character  of  husband  and 
father,  would  not  withdraw  from  them  the  hand  of  kind 
ness  and  protection,  and  leave  them  in  despair;  but  in 
several  instances  the  reply  was,  No;  "we  took  you  as 
companions  during  the  v:ar,  and  now  we  are  destitute  of  the 
means  of  support,  and  you  must  provide  for  yourselves.'' 
November  25th. — The  British  army  evacuated  New  York, 
and  the  American  troops,  under  General  Knox,  took  pos 
session  of  the  city.  Soon  after,  General  Washington  and 
Governor  Clfnton,  with  their  suite,  made  their  public  en 
try -into  the  city  on  horseback,  followed  by  the  lieutenant- 
governor  and  the  members  of  council,  for  the  temporary 


KEVOLUTIONAEY  ANNALS,  1783.  347 

government  of  the  Southern  district,  four  abreast.  Gen 
eral  Knox  and  the  officers  of  the  army,  eight  abreast; 
citizens  on  horseback,  eight  abreast;  the  speaker  of  the 
assembly  and  citizens  on  foot,  eight  abreast.  The  gov 
ernor  gave  a  public  dinner,  at  which  the  commander-in- 
chief,  and  other  general  officers  were  present.  The  ar 
rangements  for  the  whole  business  were  so  well  made 
and  executed,  that  the  most  admirable  tranquillity  suc 
ceeded  through  the  day  and  night.  On  Monday  the 
governor  gave  an  elegant  entertainment  to  the  French 
ambassador,  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne;  General  Wash 
ington,  the  principal  officers  of  New  York  state  and  of 
the  army,  and  upwards  of  a  hundred  gentlemen,  were 
present.  Magnificent  fire-works,  infinitely  exceeding  every 
thing  of  the  kind  before  seen  in  the  United  States,  were 
exhibited  at  the  Bowling  Green  in  Broadway,  on  the 
evening  of  Tuesday,  in  celebration  of  the  definitive  treaty 
of  peace.  They  commenced  by  a  dove  descending  with 
the  olive  branch,  and  setting  fire  to  a  marron  battery.  On 
Tuesday  noon,  December  4th,  the  principal  officers  of  the 
army  assembled  at  Francis'  tavern,  to  take  a  final  leave 
of  their  much-loved  commander-in-chief.  Soon  after,  his 
excellency  entered  the  room.  His  emotions  were  too 
strong  to  be  concealed.  Filling  a  glass,  he  turned  to  them, 
and  said,  "With  a  heart  full  of  love  and  gratitude,  I  now 
take  leave  of  you.  I  most  devoutly  wish  that  your  latter 
days  may  be  as  prosperous  and  happy  as  your  former 
ones  have  been  glorious  and  honorable."  Having  drank, 
he  added,  "I  cannot  come  to  each  of  you  to  take  my  leave, 
but  shall  be  obliged  to  you,  if  each  of  you  will  come  and 
take  me  by  the  hand."  General  Knox,  being  nearest, 
turned  to  him.  Incapable  of  utterance,  Washington,  in 
tears,  grasped  his  hand,  embraced  and  kissed  him.  In  the 
same  affectionate  manner  he  took  leave  of  each  succeeding 
officer.  In  every  eye  was  the  tear  of  dignified  sensibility ; 
and  not  a  word  was  articulated  to  interrupt  the  eloquent 
silence  and  tenderness  of  the  scene.  Leaving  the  room, 
he  passed  through  the  corps  of  light-infantry,  and  walked 
to  White  Hall,  where  a  barge  waited  to  convey  him  to 
Paulus'  Hook.  The  whole  company  followed  in  mute  and 
solemn  procession,  with  dejected  countenances,  testifying 
feelings  of  delicious  melancholy  which  no  language  can 
23 


348  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

describe.  Having  entered  the  barge,  he  turned  to  the 
company,  and,  waving  his  hat,  bid  them  a  silent  adieu. 
They  paid  him  the  same  affectionate  compliment,  and  after 
the  barge  had  left  them,  returned  in  the  same  solemn 
manner  to  the  place  where  they  had  assembled.  The 
passions  of  human  nature  were  never  more  tenderly  agi 
tated  than  in  this  interesting  and  distressful  scene. 

General  Washington  now  repaired  to  Annapolis,  where 
Congress  were  in  session,  to  whom  he  resigned  his  com 
mission,  which  eight  years  before  he  had  received  from 
this  honorable  body.  On  the  23d  of  December,  the  day 
appointed  for  the  very  interesting  transaction,  a  vast  con 
course  of  spectators  attended.  The  gallery  was  filled  with 
a  group  of  ladies,  and  some  graced  the  floor  of  Congress. 
The  governor,  council  and  legislature  of  Maryland,  several 
general  officers,  the  consul  general  of  France,  and  numer 
ous  citizens  of  Annapolis  were  present.  Congress  were 
seated  and  covered,  as  representatives  of  the  sovereignty 
of  the  union;  the  spectators  were  uncovered  and  standing, 
The  general  was  introduced  to  a  chair  by  the  secretary, 
who,  after  a  decent  interval,  ordered  silence.  A  short 
pause  ensued,  when  the  honorable  Thomas  Mifflin,  the 
president,  informed  the  general  that  "the  United  States 
in  Congress  assembled  were  prepared  to  receive  his  com 
munications."  On  which,  he  rose  with  dignity,  and  deliv 
ered  this  address: 

"MR.  PRESIDENT:  The  great  events  on  which  ray  resignation  de 
pended,  having  at  length  taken  place,  I  now  have  the  honor  of  offering 
my  sincere  congratulations  to  Congress,  and  of  presenting  myself  before 
them,  to  surrender  into  their  hands  the  trust  committed  to  me,  and  to 
claim  the  indulgence  of  retiring  from  the  service  of  my  country. 

"Happy  in  the  confirmation  of  our  independence  and"  sovereignty,  and 
pleased  with  the  opportunity  afforded  the  United  States  of  becoming  a 
respectable  nation,  I  resign  with  satisfaction  the  appointment  I  accepted 
with  diffidence — a  diffidence  in  my  abilities,  to  accomplish  so  arduous  a 
task,  which,  however,  was  superseded  by  a  confidence  in  the  rectitude 
of  our  cause,  the  support  of  the  supreme  power  of  the  union,  and  the 
patronage  of  Heaven. 

"The  successful  termination  of  the  war  has  verified  the  mostsanguino 
expectations:  my  gratitude  for  the  interpositions  of  Providence,  and  the 
assistance  I  have  received  from'my  countrymen,  increase  with  every  re 
view  of  the  momentous  contest. 

"  While  I  respect  my  obligations  to  the  army  in  general,  I  should  do 
injustice  to  my  own  feelings  not  to  acknowledge  in  this  place  the  pecu- 
.iar  services  and  distinguished  merits  of  the  persons  who  have  been 


KEVOLUTIONAEY  ANNALS,  1783.  349 

attached  to  my  person  during  the  war.  It  was  impossible  the  choice  of 
confidential  officers  to  compose  my  family  should  have  been  more  for 
tunate.  -Permit  me,  sir,  to  recommend  in  particular  those  who  have 
continued  in  the  service  to  the  present  moment,  as  worthy  of  the  favor 
able  notice  and  patronage  of  Congress. 

"I  consider  it  as  an  indispensable  duty  to  close  this  last  solemn  net  of 
my  official  life  by  commending  the  interests  of  our  dearest  country  to 
the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  and  those  who  have  the  superintend 
ence  of  them  to  his  holy  keeping. 

"Having  now  finished  the  work  assigned  me,  I  retire  from  the  great 
theatre  of  action ;  and  bidding  an  affectionate  farewell  to  this  august 
body,  under  whose  orders  I  have  long  acted,  I  here  offer  my  commis 
sion,  and  take  my  leave  of  all  the  employments  of  public  life." 

This  address  being  ended,  General  Washington  ad 
vanced,  and  delivered  his  commission  into  the  hands  of 
the  President  of  Congress,  who  replied  as  follows: 

"The  United  States,  in  Congress  assembled,  receive  with  emotions 
too  affecting  for  utterance  the  solemn  resignation  of  the  authorities  un 
der  which  you  have  led  their  troops  with  success  through  a  perilous  and 
doubtful  war. 

"Called  on  by  your  country  to  defend  its  invaded  rights,  you  accepted 
the  sacred  charge  before  it  had  formed  alliances,  and  while  it  was  without 
friends  or  a  government  to  support  you. 

"You  have  conducted  the  great  military  contest  with  wisdom  and 
fortitude,  invariably  regarding  the  rights  of  the  civil  power,  through  all 
disasters  and  changes.  You  have,  by  the  love  and  confidence  of  your 
fellow-citizens,  enabled  them  to  display  their  martial  genius,  and  trans 
mit  their  fame  to  posterity;  you  have  persevered  till  these  United  States, 
aided  by  a  magrfanimous  king  and  nation,  have  been  enabled,  under  a 
just  Providence,  to  close  the  war  in  safety,  freedom,  and  independency; 
on  which  happy  event  we  sincerely  join  you  in  congratulations. 

"Having  defended  the  standard  of  liberty  in  this  new  world;  having 
taught  a  lesson  useful  to  those  who  inflict,  and  to  those  who  feel  oppres 
sion,  you  retire  from  the  great  theatre  of  action  with  the  blessings  of 
your  fellow-citizens;  but  the  glory  of  your  virtues  will  not  terminate 
with  your  military  command:  it  will  continue  to  animate  remotest  ages. 
We  feel,  with  you,  our  obligations  to  the  army  in  general,  and  will  par 
ticularly  charge  ourselves  with  the  interest  of  those  confidential  officers 
who  have  attended  your  person  to  this  affecting  moment. 

"We  join  you  in  commending  the  interests  of  our  dearest  country  to 
the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  beseeching  him  to  dispose  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  its  citizens  to  improve  the  opportunity  afforded  them  of 
becoming  a  happy  and  respectable  nation;  and  for  you  we  address  to 
Him  our  earnest  prayers,  that  a  life  so  beloved  may  be  fostered  with  all 
his  care;  that  your  days  may  be  happy,  as  they  have  been  illustrious,  and 
that  he  will  finally  give  you  that  reward  which  this  world  cannot  give." 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  that  greater  honor  can  be 
conferred  on  any  man,  than  to  receive  the  united  acknowl- 


350  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

edgments  of  three  millions  of  people,  assembled  by  their 
representatives,  declaring  to  all  the  world  that  he  has  been 
the  temporal  saviour  of  his  country !  His  mind  was  power 
ful  and  enlightened,  his  devotion  to  his  country  fervent,  his 
sacrifices  great  and  important,  and  his  triumphs  noble  and 
splendid ;  and  his  memory  will  be  blessed  and  immortal ! 

It  has  been  estimated  that  the  loss  of  lives  in  the  various 
armies  of  the  United  States,  during  the  war,  is  not  loss 
than  seventy  thousand.  The  numbers  who  died  on  board 
of  the  horrid  prison-ships  of  the  enemy  cannot  be  calcu 
lated.  It  is,  however,  confidently  asserted,  that  no  less 
than  eleven  thousand  of  our  brave  soldiers  died  on  board 
the  one  called  the  Jersey  prison-ship,  only!  This  dreadful 
mortality  is  universally  attributed  to  the  cruel  treatment 
which  they  received  while  crowded  together  in  close  con 
finement. 

The  loss  to  Great  Britain  is  two  large  armies  captured 
by  the  United  States,  exclusively  of  many  thousands  killed 
and  taken  in  various  actions  during  the  war;  thirteen 
colonies  dismembered  from  her,  and  an  increase  of  her 
national  debt,  in  seven  years,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
millions. 

The  United  States  have  gained  that  independence  and 
liberty  for  which  they  contended,  and  find  their  debt  to 
be  less  than  forty-five  millions  of  dollars,  which  is  short  of 
ten  millions  of  pounds  sterling !  This  long-protracted  war 
fare,  waged  in  behalf  of  American  freedom,  is  now  tri 
umphantly  terminated,  and  a  sanctuary  sacred  to  civil  and 
religious  liberty  will  be  opened  in  this  western  hemisphere, 

Extract  of  a  Circular  Letter  from  his  Excellency  George  Washington, 
Commander-in- Chief  of  the  Armies  of  the  United  Stales  of  America, 
to  the  Governors  of  the  several  Stales. 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  Neiolurgk,  June,  18,  1783. 

"For  my  own  part,  conscious  of  having  acted,  while  a  servant  of  the 
public,  in  the  manner  I  conceived  best  suited  to  promote  the  real  inter 
ests  of  my  country;  having,  in  consequence  of  my  fixed  belief,  in  some 
measure  pledged  myself  to  the  army  that  their  country  would  finally  do 
them  complete  and  ample  justice,  and  not  willing  to  conceal  any  instance 
of  my  official  conduct  from  the  eyes  of  the  world,  I  have  thought  proper 
to  transmit  to  your  excellency  the  inclosed  collection  of  papers,  relative 
to  the  half-pay  and  commutation  granted  by  Congress  to  the  officers  of 
the  army. 

"  From  these  communications,  my  decided  sentiment  will  be  clearly 


KEVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

comprehended,  together  with  the  conclusive  reasons  which  induced  me  at 
an  early  period  to  recommend  the  adoption  of  this  measure  in  the  most 
earnest  and  serious  manner.  As  the  proceedings  of  Congress,  the  army, 
and  myself  are  open  to  all,  and  contain,  in  my  opinion,  sufficient  infor 
mation  to  remove  the  prejudice  and  errors  which  may  have  been  enter 
tained  by  any,  I  think  it  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing  more  than  just  to 
observe,  that  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  now  alluded  to,  are  as  undoubt 
edly  and  absolutely  binding  on  the  United  States,  as  the  most  solemn 
acts  of  confederation  or  legislation. 

"As  to  the  idea,  which  I  am  informed  has  in  some  instances  prevailed, 
that  the  half-pay  ffnd  commutation  are  to  be  regarded  merely  in  the 
odious  light  of  a  pension,  it  ought  to  be  exploded  for  ever:  That  pro 
vision  should  be  viewed  as  it  really  was,  a  reasonable  compensation 
offered  by  Congress,  at  a  time  when  they  had  nothing  else  to  give,  to 
officers  of  the  army  for  services  then  to  be  performed:  It  was  the  only 
means  to  prevent  a  total  dereliction  of  the  service;  it  was  a  part  of  their 
hire — I  may  be  allowed  to  say,  it  was  the  price  of  their  blood  and  of 
your  independency;  it  is  therefore  more  than  a  common  debt;  it  is  a 
debt  of  honor;  it  can  never  be  considered  as  a  pension  or  gratuity,  nor 
canceled  till  it  is  fairly  discharged." 

For  the  following  sketch  I  am  indebted  to  the  Hon.  Wil 
liam  Eustis,  a  highly  respectable  surgeon  in  the  hospital 
department  during  the  revolutionary  war: 

COLONEL   JOHN   CRANE,  AND   OTHERS. 

The  mechanics  of  Boston  and  its  vicinity  may  take  a 
just  pride  in  having  furnished  from  their  ranks  some  of 
the  bravest  and  most  useful  officers  of  the  revolutionary 
army,  and,  among  them,  no  one  more  brave  or  more  use 
ful  than  John  Crane. 

In  adverting  to  the  sources  whence  they  derived  their 
knowledge  of  discipline  and  of  service,  our  first  object  is  to 
show,  from  facts  and  experience,  the  utility  and  importance 
of  a  well-organized  militia,  and  to  defend  this  invaluable  in 
stitution  from  the  reproaches  of  the  ignorant  and  assuming, 
who  would  sap  the  foundation  of  the  national  defence ;  and 
secondly,  to  inspire  the  young  mechanics  with  zeal  in  the 
military  profession,  that  like  their  predecessors  they  may 
become  the  able  and  substantial  defenders  of  their  country. 

Previous  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  there  was  in 
Boston  a  company  of  artillery,  commanded  by  Captain 
Adi  no  Paddock,  by  profession  a  chaise-maker.  It  was 
composed  principally,  if  not  altogether,  of  the  mechanics 
of  Boston,  and  was  distinguished  by  its  superior  disci 
pline,  by  the  exactness  of  its  manoeuvres  and  the  accuracy 


352  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783 

of  its  firing^.  Paddock  had  tory  connexions,  adhered  to 
the  British,  went  to  England,  was  consulted  repeatedly  by 
the  British  ministry,  and  was  invested  with  the  military 
command  of  the  island  of  Guernsey.  In  this  company 
were  raised  Colonel  John  Crane,  Colonel  (now  General) 
Ebenezer  Stevens,  with  others,  all  of  whose  names  are  not 
recollected.  Crane  and  Stevens  were  house-carpenters, 
Perkins  was  a  shoe-maker,  Seward  a  hatter,  Popkins  a 
tailor,  Allen  a  sail-maker,  Carnes  a  rope*naker,  Lillie  a 

cooper,  Johnson  a  painter,  Treat  a  cooper,  Burbeck  a , 

Hall  a  mason,  D.  Bryant  a  chair-maker,  Cook  a  butcher, 
Thomas  a  cooper,  and  Allen  a  sail-maker. 

The  greater  part  of  these  with  others  formed  a  regiment 
of  artillery,  not  exceeded  in  discipline,  valor,  and  useful 
ness  by  any  regiment  in  service.  Crane  was  made  a  major 
in  1775.  An  uneducated  man,  he  had  all  the  pride  and 
ambition  of  a  soldier.  He  was  constitutionally  bold  and 
daring,  courting  danger  wherever  it  was  to  be  found. 

In  1775,  when  Boston  was  besieged,  his  station  was  in 
Eoxbury.  On  Boston  neck  a  breastwork  was  constructed, 
and  so  soon  as  cannon  could  be  procured  they  were 
mounted.  Crane  had  the  command,  spent  a  great  part  of 
his  time  there,  and  was  never  more  delighted  than  when 
he  was  permitted  to  fire  on  the  British  intrenchment.  Our 
stock  of  powder  was  then  small.  It  was  on  this  theatre 
that  he  first  displayed  an  undaunted  courage,  and  a  knowl 
edge  of  the  art  of  gunnery,  not  often  displayed  by  old 
artillery  officers.  He  repeatedly  dismounted  the  cannon 
in  the  embrasures  of  the  British  works,  killing  and  wound 
ing  their  men.  After  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  he  marched 
to  New  York.  Whenever  a  British  ship-of-war  appeared 
in  the  East  or  North  rivers,  or  any  firing  was  heard,  Crane 
was  on  horseback,  and  galloped  to  the  scene  of  action. 
Being  reproached  on  an  occasion  when  he  exposed  himself 
alone,  riding  through  Greenwich-street,  under  the  constant 
broadsides  of  a  passing  ship,  he  replied,  "The  shot  is  not 
cast  which  is  to  kill  me." 

Not  long  after,  a  frigate  run  up  the  East  river,  and  an 
chored  on  the  Long  Island  side,  near  Corlaer's  hook.  Four 
field-pieces  were  ordered  to  annoy  her.  They  were  only 
six-pounders.  Crane,  as  usual,  was  present,  and  pointed 
the  pieces.  His  sight  was  remarkably  true — his  aim  was 


EEVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  353 

sure.  He  had  from  habit  and  the  acuteness  of  his  vision 
the  faculty  of  seeing  a  cannon-ball  on  its  passage  through 
the  air.  A  falling  shot  from  the  ship  he  kenned  in  a 
direction  to  strike,  as  he  thought,  the  lower  part  of  his 
body.  Not  having  time  to  change  his  position  in  any  other 
way,  he  whirled  himself  round  on  one  foot;  the  ball  struck 
the  other  foot  while  raised  in  the  air,  canning  away  the 
great  toe  and  ball  of  the  foot.  Thus  ended  his  usefulness 
for  the  campaign.  He  was  afterwards  removed  to  New 
Jersey,  and,  surviving  the  perils  of  a  partial  jaw-lock,  so 
far  recovered  as  to  go  home  on  furlough.  He  returned 
the  next  spring,  and  continued  in  service  till  the  peace. 

The  nature  of  this  work  will  not  allow  us  to  follow  him 
through  the  remainder  of  his  career;  but  we  cannot  refrain 
from  stating  a  closing  anecdote,  illustrative  of  his  inde 
pendent  spirit.  He  had  been  among  th5  number  of  those 
who  thought  the  army  had  been  neglected  by  the  country, 
and  spake  as  he  felt,  indignantly,  at  the  treatment  they 
had  received.  A  board  of  general  and  field  officers,  with 
two  hospital  surgeons,  were  appointed  to  examine  the 
wounded  officers  and  soldiers  in  camp  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  to  report  the  rate  of  compensation  to  which  they 
were  severally  entitled.  A  friend  and  brother-officer,  who 
well  knew  the  nature  of  his  wound,  waited  on  Colonel 
Crane,  represented  to  him  that,  on  his  return  to  private 
life,  his  activity  of  mind  and  body  would  lead  him  to  some 
kind  of  labor,  and  that  having  lost  the  ball  of  his  foot,  the 
bones  would  come  through  the  cicatrix,  and  his  wound  open 
again,  asking  the  favor  of  him  to  walk  over,  and  suffer  his 
foot  to  be  inspected.  Stamping  the  wounded  foot  on  the 
floor,  he  replied,  indignantly,  "No,  sir;  they  never  shall 
say  that  I  eat  their  bread  when  I  have  done  serving  them." 

He  entered  afterwards  on  active  and  laborious  business, 
and  prospered  for  a  number  of  years,  met  with  adverse 
circumstances,  his  wound  broke  out  again,  he  could  no 
longer  labor.  After  many  years  he  came  to  the  friend 
who  had  admonished  him  of  the  consequences  of  his  wound, 
and  said  to  him,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  "My  friend,  I  am 
now  a  humbled  man,  you  may  do  with  me  as  you  please." 
He  was  immediately  placed  on  the  pension-list,  but  did 
not  live  a  year  to  enjoy  his  pension. 

The  important  services  of  Major  Stevens,  who  com- 


354  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

manded  the  artillery  under  General  Gates,  in  the  campaign 
of  1777,  are  well  known. 

There  are  anecdotes  relative  to  many  others  of  them, 
illustrative  of  their  bravery  in  the  field,  arid  of  their 
magnanimity  and  general  usefulness  during  the  war  which 
we  have  not  room  to  particularize.  One,  however,  we 
cannot  in  justice  omit.  David  Bryant,  bred  a  chair-maker 
in  Boston,  and  afterwards  a  lieutenant  in  the  artillery,  was 
a  man  of  small  stature,  but  remarkable  for  the  strictness 
of  discipline  which  he  observed  from  the  earliest  period 
of  the  war.  At  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  he 
was  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy,  and  was  mortally  wound 
ed.  His  men  hovered  round  him  to  take  care  of  him.  lie 
addressed  them  in  the  following  words:  "My  lads,  it  is 
over  with  me;  leave  me,  but  don't  leave  the  pieces."  Ills 
words  were  electric;  they  saved  their  pieces,  and  brought 
him  off  on  the  trail.  He  died  in  the  American  camp. 

To  the  above  catalogue  of  worthies  may  be  added  Col 
onel  Paul  Eevere;  his  occupation  was  that  of  a  gold-smith. 
He  was  a  very  active  and  influential  patriot  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  revolution,  associated  with  a  number  of 
mechanics,  who  watched  with  a  vigilant  eye  every  move 
ment  of  the  British,  and  promptly  communicated  intelli 
gence  to  the  proper  authority.  In  the  evening  preceding 
the  19th  of  April,  1775,  Colonel  Eevere  was  one  of  the 
first  who  discovered  that  a  British  detachment  was  ordered 
on  an  expedition  into  the  country,  and  with  the  utmost 
despatch  repaired  to  Lexington,  spreading  the  alarm  among 
the  militia,  and  giving  notice  to  Messrs.  Hancock  and 
Adams,  who  were  then  at  the  house  of  the  clergyman  in 
that  town,  that  they  might  escape  the  impending  danger. 
Colonel  Eevere  was  afterwards  appointed  to  command  a 
regiment  of  artillery  in  the  militia,  and  was  on  the  unfor 
tunate  Penobscot  expedition  in  the  summer  of  1779.  He 
was  through  life  esteemed  for  unimpeachable  integrity, 
attachment  to  correct  political  principles,  and  as  a  useful 
citizen.  He  died  in  Boston,  in  1818,  in  his  eighty- 
fourth  year. 

Dr.  John  Thomas  is  a  respectable  regimental  surgeon. 
He  possesses  a  remarkable  faculty  of  mimicry,  and  no 
person  in  New  England  can  tell  a  Yankee  story  with  more 
genuine  humor.  An  occurrence  at  head-quarters  is  thus 


KEVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  355 

related  by  a  gentleman  who  was  present.  General  Wash 
ington  seldom  smiles;  I  never  saw  him  laugh  but  once; 
it  was  after  the  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed,  and  at 
a  Yankee  story  told  by  Dr.  Thomas.  The  doctor  being 
invited  to  dine  at  head-quarters,  one  of  the  aids  requested 
the  general's  permission  for  him  to  repeat  the  dialogue 
between  two  New  England  men  who  had  visited  the 
French  camp.  In  doing  this,  he  repeated  quaint  speeches 
and  remarks  in  a  manner  so  inimitably  ludicrous,  that  no 
one  but  his  excellency  could  contain  his  gravity.  At 
length  he  added,  "What,  said  Jonathan,  do  you  think 
Chambeau's  soldiers  call  a  hat?  the  tarnation  fools,  they 
call  it  a  chappeau!  Why,  and  be  darn'd  to  them,  can't 
they  call  it  a  hat  and  adone  with  it?"  The  general  could 
no  longer  refrain;  he  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter.  There 
is  not  perhaps  another  man  who  can  boast  of  exciting 
laughter  in  General  Washington. 

Captain  Houdin,  commonly  pronounced  Udang,  is  a 
Frenchman  of  singular  manners  and  character,  and  ludi 
crous  in  his  personal  appearance,  being  rather  tall,  but 
slender  ;  his  features  are  sharp  and  irregular,  complexion 
dark,  with  small  jet-black  eyes.  His  long  hair  is  brought 
in  a  braid  to  the  top  of  his  head,  which  is  constantly  cov 
ered  with  powder;  he  is  never  seen  without  his  small 
sword,  nor.  in  conversation  without  a  display  of  vanity  and 
affectation.  He  converses  in  broken  English,  with  rapid 
articulation,  often  perverting  words  from  their  legitimate 
meaning.  Dr.  Thomas  and  Udang  have  at  command  an 
inexhaustible  fund  of  merriment  and  humor,  and  Udang 
once  said  to  the  doctor,  "You  can  take  me  off  better  than 
I  can  myself."  On  a  return  from  Boston,  in  1780,  he  re 
lated  some  incidents  that  occurred  to  him,  which  have 
frequently  been  repeated  to  aid  in  festive  mirth.  Some 
wag,  knowing  his  vanity  and  affectation  of  consequence, 
had  employed  a  negro  wench  to  make  a  familiar  address 
to  him  in  some  public  place.  This  was  a  severe  mortifi 
cation,  and  destroyed  all  the  comforts  of  his  visit.  In 
answer  to  an  inquiry  how  he  liked  Boston,  this  vexation 
was  uppermost  in  his  mind.  "I  like  Boston  very  well,  all 
but  one  d — d  madam  nig."  On  being  pressed  further,  he 
related  the  particulars  with  all  the  action  and  irritation 
that  the  reality  occasioned.  One  gentleman  said  to  me, 


356  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

Will  you  take  a  walk  to  the  market — twas  one  very  fine 
market — de  poult,  de  geese,  ebery  ting — one  very  fine 
assortiment — dere  it  was  I  hear  somebody  say  behind,  '  How 
do  you  do,  Captain  TJdangT  I  looked  round;  one  black 
bish  say  again,  making  reverence,  '/  hope  you  be  well, 
Captain  Udang.'  Who  be  you  speak  to  me  in  de  market? 
'You  forget,'  she  say,  *  I  was  your  sweetheart  in  77.'  Hoi 
you  tongue,  you  d — d  rascal  bish.  You  speak  to  me  in 
de  market,  when  I  am  wid  gentlemen,  I  cut  off  your  head, 
I  will,  you  rascal  wench.  I  was  so  asham,  I  put  de  hat 
over  my  eyes  and  run  right  home  tro  five  tousand  people. 
Next  day  some  gentlemen  tell  me  who  own  the  black  bish 
dat  spoke  to  me  in  de  market,  and  advise  me  to  tell  de 
mistress.  I  go  to  the  house,  and  knock,  knock — by  by 
door  open,  ''How  do  you  do,  Captain  Udang"1 — de  same 
black  bish.  rascal  dat  spoke  to  me  in  de  market.  Who 
own  you?  Tell  you  mistress  one  gentleman  officer  wish  to 
see  her.  Madam,  say  I,  do  you  own  dat  d — d  madam  nig, 
dat  spoke  to  me  in  de  market.  She  say,  if  you  had  not 
been  too  familiar  with  my  negro  wench,  she  would  not 
spoke  to  you  in  de  market.  I  say,  'You  be  one  d — d 
rascal  yourself,  madam.' " 

There  is,  among  many  good  anecdotes  related  of  Mon 
sieur,  one  that  shows  the  simplicity  of  the  man,  and  is 
characteristic  of  the  times.  Before  and  at  the  period  of 
the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitution,  great  excitement 
existed  in  many  parts  of  the  country  against  many  of  its 
leading  provisions,  much  mischief  was  predicted,  and  the 
irritated  spirit  of  party  could  discern  nothing  but  the  most 
odious  features  and  destructive  tendencies.  Houdin,  on 
whom  principles  and  opinions  set  rather  loosely,  was  a 
zealous  anti-federalist.  After  the  new  government  was 
adopted,  he  was  among  the  first  to  apply  to  the  war  de 
partment  for  an  office.  With  no  very  favorable  indication 
in  his  manner,  General  Knox  inquired,  "Do  you  expect 
patronage  under  that  system  of  government  that  you  have 
every  where  assailed?"  "Ah,  general,"  says  Monsieur, 
"I  tot  it  was  popular;  I  meant  noting."  This  honest 
simplicity  availed  him  with  the  frank  and  generous  mind 
of  Knox,  more  than  a  hypocritical,  canting  affectation  of 
patriotism.  He  received  the  appointment  of  conductor  of 
military  stores,  which  he  held  till  his  death. 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE  I.— See  Page  102. 

GENEKAL  BURGOYNE,  in  his  defence,  after  his  arrival 
in  England,  as  commander  of  the  Northern  expedition, 
has  paid  a  just  tribute  of  praise  to  American  bravery. 
Adverting  to  the  action  of  the  19th  of  September,  he 
says:  "Few  actions  have  been  characterized  by  more  ob 
stinacy  in  attack  or  defence.  The  British  bayonet  was 
repeatedly  tried  ineffectually.  Eleven  hundred  British 
soldiers,  foiled  in  these  trials,  bore  incessant  fire  from  a 
succession  of  fresh  troops,  in  superior  numbers,  for  above 
four  hours;  and  after  a  loss  of  above  a  third  of  their  num 
ber,  and  in  one  of  the  regiments  above  two-thirds,  forced 
the  enemy  at  last.  Of  a  detachment  of  a  captain  and  forty- 
eight  artillery-men,  the  captain  and  thirty-six  men  were 
killed  or  wounded.  The  tribute  of  praise  due  to  such 
troops,  will  not  be  wanting  in  this  generous  nation."  His 
observations  respecting  the  action  of  the  7th  of  October, 
are  expressed  in  the  following  energetic  and  feeling  lan 
guage:  "The  losses  in  the  action  were  uncommonly  se 
vere.  Sir  Francis  Clark,  my  aid-de-camp,  had  originally 
recommended  himself  to  my  attention  by  his  talents  and 
diligence.  As  service  and  intimacy  opened  his  character 
more,  he  became  endeared  to  me  by  every  quality  that 
can  create  esteem.  I  lost  in  him  a  useful  assistant,  an 
amiable  companion,  an  attached  friend;  the  state  was  de 
prived  by  his  death  of  one  of  the  fairest  promises  of  an 
able  general. 

"The  fate  of  Colonel  Ackland,  taken  prisoner,  and  then 
supposed  to  be  mortally  wounded,  was  a  second  source  of 
anxiety.  General  Frazer  was  expiring. 

"In  the  course  of  the  action,  a  shot  had  passed  through 


358  APPENDIX. 

my  hat,  and  another  had  torn  my  waistcoat.  I  should  be 
sorry  to  be  thought  at  any  time  insensible  to  the  protecting 
hand  of  Providence;  but  I  ever  more  particularly  consid 
ered  a  soldier's  hair-breadth  escapes  as  incentives  to  duty, 
a  marked  renewal  of  the  trust  of  being,  for  the  due  pur 
poses  of  a  public  station;  and  under  this  reflection,  to  lose 
our  fortitude,  by  giving  way  to  our  affections,  to  be  di 
verted  by  any  possible  self-emotion  from  meeting  a  present 
exigency  with  our  best  faculties,  were  at  once  dishonor 
and  impiety." 

General  .Frazer  died  of  his  wounds  on  the  8th  instant. 
Before  his  death,  he  requested  that  his  body  might  be  car 
ried,  without  parade,  by  the  officers  of  his  own  corps  to 
the  great  redoubt,  and  there  buried.  About  sun-set  the 
corpse  was  carried  up  the  hill,  and  necessarily  passed  in 
view  of  both  armies.  Generals  Burgoyne,  Phillips,  and 
Reidesel  placed  themselves  in  the  humble  procession.  As 
General  Gates  was  not  made  acquainted  with  the  intended 
solemnity,  a  constant  cannonade  was  kept  up  by  our  peo 
ple,  directed  to  the  hill,  where  the  ceremony  was  per 
formed.  From  the  pen  of  General  Burgoyne,  we  have 
the  following  eloquent  delineation  of  the  melancholy 
scene:  "The  incessant  cannonade  during  the  solemnity, 
the  steady  attitude  and  unaltered  voice  with  which  the 
clergyman  officiated,  though  frequently  covered  with  dust, 
which  the  shot  threw  up  on  all  sides  of  him ;  the  mute, 
but  expressive  mixture  of  sensibility  and  indignation  on 
every  countenance;  these  objects  will  remain  to  the  last 
of  life  on  the  mind  of  every  man  who  was  present.  The 
growing  duskiness  added  to  the  scenery,  and  the  whole 
marked  a  character  of  this  juncture,  that  would  make  one 
of  the  finest  subjects  for  the  pencil  of  a  master  that  the 
field  ever  exhibited.  To  the  canvas  and  to  the  page  of  a 
more  important  historian,  gallant  friend!  I  consign  thy 
memory.  There  may  thy  talents,  thy  manly  virtues,  their 
progress  and  their  period,  find  due  distinction;  and  long 
may  they  survive,  long  after  the  frail  record  of  my  pen 
shall  be  forgotten  1" 

The  following  appropriate  lines  are  from  the  elegant 
pen  of  Mrs.  Morton : 

To  gallant  Gates,  in  war  serenely  brave, 
The  tide  of  fortune  turns  its  refluent  wave; 


APPENDIX.  359 

Forced  by  his  arm,  the  bold  invaders  yield 
The  prize  and  glory  of  the  well-fought  field ; 
Bleeding  and  lost  the  captured  Ackland  lies, 
While  leaden  slumbers  seal  his  Freezer's  eyes; 
Frazer!  whose  deeds  unfading  glories  claim, 
Endear'd  by  virtue,  and  adorn'd  by  fame. 


LADY  ACKLAND.— See  Page  110. 

FURTHER  particulars  respecting  the  affecting  story  of 
this  distinguished  lady  have  since  appeared  ;  and  from  the 
writings  of  General  Burgoyne  and  other  sources  I  extract 
the  following.  She  accompanied  Major  Ackland  to  Can 
ada  in  1776,  and  was  called  to  attend  on  him  while  sick 
in  a  miserable  hut  at  Chamblee.  In  the  expedition  to 
Ticonderoga,  in  1777,  she  was  positively  enjoined  not  to 
expose  herself  to  the  risk  and  hazards  which  might  occur 
on  that  occasion;  but  Major  Ackland,  having  received  a 
wound  in  the  battle  of  Hubberton,  she  crossed  Lake 
Champlain  to  pay  her  attention  to  him.  After  this,  she 
followed  his  fortune,  and  shared  his  fatigue,  while  tra 
versing  the  dreary,  woody  country  to  Fort  Edward.  Here 
the  tent  in  which  they  lodged  took  fire  by  night,  from 
which  they  escaped  with  the  utmost  difficulty.  During 
the  action  of  the  19th  of  September,  she  was  exposed  to 
great  fatigue,  and  inexpressible  anxiety  for  the  fate  of  her 
husband,  being  advanced  in  the  front  of  the  battle.  On 
the  7th  of  October,  during  the  heat  of  the  conflict,  Lady 
Ackland  took  refuge  among  the  wounded  and  dying;  her 
husband,  commanding  the  grenadiers,  was  in  the  most 
exposed  part  of  the  action,  and  she  in  awful  suspense 
awaiting  his  fate.  The  Baroness  Eeidesel,  and  the  wives 
of  two  other  field-officers,  were  her  companions  in  painful 
apprehension.  One  of  these  officers  was  soon  brought  in 
dangerously  wounded,  and  the  death  of  the  other  was 
announced.  It  was  not  long  before  intelligence  was  re 
ceived  that  the  British  army  was  defeated,  and  that  Major 
Ackland  was  desperately  wounded  and  taken.  The  next 
day  she  proposed  to  visit  her  husband  in  the  American 
camp.  General  Burgoyne  observes,  "Though  I  was  ready 
to  believe,  for  I  had  experienced,  that  patience  and  forti 
tude  in  a  supreme  degree  were  to  be  found,  as  well  as 


360  APPENDIX. 

every  other  virtue,  under  the  most  tender  form,  I  was 
astonished  at  this  proposal.  After  so  long  an  agitation  of 
the  spirits,  exhausted  not  only  for  want  of  rest,  but  abso 
lutely  want  of  food,  drenched  in  rain  for  twelve  hours 
together^  that  a  woman  should  be  capable  of  delivering 
herself  to  the  enemy,  probably  in  the  night,  and  uncertain 
into  what  hands  she  might  fall,  appeared  an  effort  above 
human  nature.  The  assistance  I  was  enabled  to  give  was 
small  indeed;  I  had  not  even  a  cup  of  wine  to  offer  her; 
but  I  was  told  she  had  found  from  some  kind  and  fortunate 
hand  a  little  rum  and  dirty  water.  All  I  could  furnish  to 
her  was  an  open  boat  and  a  few  lines  written  on  dirty  and 
wet  paper  to  General  Gates,  recommending  her  to  his  pro 
tection. — It  is  due  to  justice,  at  the  close  of  this  adventure, 
to  say,  that  she  was  received  and  accommodated  by  Gen 
eral  Gates,  with  all  the  humanity  and  respect  that  her 
rank,  her  merits,  and  her  fortunes  deserved. 

"Let  such  as  are  affected  by  these  circumstances  of 
alarm,  hardship  and  danger,  recollect  that  the  subject  of 
them  was  a  woman  of  the  most  tender  and  delicate  frame; 
of  the  gentlest  manners;  habituated  to  all  the  soft  ele 
gancies  and  refined  enjoyments  that  attend  high  birth  and 
fortune;  and  far  advanced  in  a  state  in  which  the  tender 
cares,  always  due  to  the  sex,  become  indispensably  neces 
sary.  Her  mind  alone  was  formed  for  such  trials." 

The  adventures  of  Lady  Ackland  have  been  a  theme 
for  the  display  of  the  poetic  talents  of  the  accomplished 
lady  of  Perez  Morton,  Esq.  It  is  regretted  that  the  limits 
of  this  production  will  not  admit  of  more  than  the  follow 
ing  lines,  and  those  on  the  preceding  page,  from  that  ex 
cellent  poem : 

"'Tvvas  now  the  time,  when  twilight's  misty  ray 
Drops  the  brown  curtain  of  retiring  day; 
The  clouds  of  heaven,  like  midnight  mountains,  lower, 
Waft  the  wild  blast,  and  dash  the  drizzly  shower: 
Through  the  wet  path  her  restless  footsteps  roam, 
To  where  the  leader  spread  his  spacious  dome; 
Low  at  his  feet  she  pours  the  desperate  prayer — 
'Give  my  lost  husband  to  my  soothing  care: 
Give  me,  in  yonder  solitary  cave, 
With  duteous  love,  his  burning  wounds  to  lave, 
On  the  warm  pillow,  which  this  breast  supplies, 
Catch  his  faint  breath,  and  close  his  languid  eyes, 
Or  in  his  cause  my  proffer'd  life  resign, 
Mine  were  his  blessings,  and  his  pains  are  mine.'" 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE  II.— See  Page  112. 

THE  following  sketch,  borrowed  from  the  Memoirs  of 
General  Wilkinson,  is  too  highly  interesting  to  be  omitted; 
every  reader  of  taste  will  be  gratified  with  the  perusal, 
and,  for  myself,  I  owe  to  General  Wilkinson  only  an 
apology  for  the  liberty  I  have  taken. 

Extract  from  the  Baroness  ReideseTs  Narrative. 

"As  we  had  to  march  still  farther,  I  ordered  a  large 
calash  to  be  built,  capable  of  holding  my  three,  children, 
myself,  and  two  female  servants;  in  this  manner  we  moved 
with  the  army  in  the  midst  of  the  soldiery,  who  were  very 
merry,  singing  songs,  and  panting  for  action.  We  had  to 
travel  through  almost  impassable  woods  and  a  most  pic 
turesque  and  beautiful  country,  which  was  abandoned  by 
its  inhabitants,  who  had  repaired  to  the  standard  of  Gen 
eral  Gates;  they  added  much  to  his  strength,  as  they  were 
all  good  marksmen,  and  fitted  by  habit  for  the  species  of 
warfare  the  contending  parties  were  then  engaged  in — and 
the  love  of  their  country  inspired  them  with  more  than 
ordinary  courage.  The  army  had  shortly  to  encamp;  I 
generally  remained  about  an  hour's  march  in  the  rear, 
where  I  received  daily  visits  from  my  husband;  the  army 
was  frequently  engaged  in  small  affairs,  but  nothing  of 
importance  took  place;  and  as  the  season  was  getting  cold, 
Major  Williams  of  the  artillery  proposed  to  have  a  house 
built  for  me  with  a  chimney,  observing  that  it  would  not 
cost  more  than  five  or  six  guineas,  and  that  the  frequent 
change  of  quarters  was  very  inconvenient  to  me;  it  was 
accordingly  built,  and  was  called  the  Block-house  from  its 
square  form  and  the  resemblance  it  bore  to  those  buildings. 

U0n  the  19th  of  September,  an  affair  happened  which, 
though  it  turned  out  to  our  advantage,  yet  obliged  us  to 
halt  at  a  place  called  Freeman's  farm;  I  was  an  eye-wit 
ness  to  the  whole  affair,  and  as  my  husband  was  engaged 
in  it,  I  was  full  of  anxiety,  and  trembled  at  every  shot  I 
heard;  I  saw  a  great  number  of  the  wounded,  and,  what 
added  to  the  distress  of  the  scene,  three  of  them  were 
brought  into  the  house  in  which  I  took  shelter;  one  was 
a  Major  Harnage  of  the  sixty -second  British  regiment,  the 


362  APPENDIX 

husband  of  a  lady  of  my  acquaintance;  another  was  a 
lieutenant,  married  to  a  lady  with  whom  I  had  the  honor 
to  be  on  terms  of  intimacy,  and  the  third  was  an  officer 
of  the  name  of  Young. 

"In  a  short  time  afterwards  I  heard  groans  proceeding 
from  a  room  near  mine,  and  knew  they  must  have  been 
occasioned  by  the  sufferings  of  the  last-mentioned  officer, 
who  lay  writhing  with  his  wounds. 

"His  mournful  situation  interested  me  much,  and  tho 
more  so,  because  the  recollection  of  many  polite  attentions, 
received  from  a  family  of  that  name  during  my  visit  to 
England,  was  still  forcibly  impressed  on  my  mind.  I  sent 
to  him,  and  begged  him  to  accept  my  best  services,  and 
afterwards  furnished  him  with  food  and  refreshments;  he 
expressed  a  great  desire  to  see  me,  politely  calling  me  his 
benefactress.  I  accordingly  visited  him,  and  found  -him 
lying  on  a  little  straw,  as  he  had  lost  his  equipage.  He 
was  a  young  man,  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  of  age,  and 
really  the  beloved  nephew  of  the  Mr.  Young,  the  head  of 
the  family  I  have  mentioned,  and  the  only  son  of  his 
parents.  This  last  circumstance  was  what  he  lamented 
most;  as  to  his  pain,  he  thought  lightly  of  it.  He  had  lost 
much  blood,  and  it  was  thought  necessary  to  amputate  the 
leg;  but  this  he  would  not  consent  to,  and  of  course  a 
mortification  took  place.  I  sent  him  cushions  and  cover 
ings,  and  my  female  friends  sent  him  a  mattress.  I  re 
doubled  my  attention  to  him,  and  visited  him  every  day, 
for  which  I  received  a  thousand  wishes  for  my  happiness. 
At  last  his  limb  was  amputated,  but  it  was  too  late,  and 
he  died  the  following  day.  As  he  lay  in  the  next  room 
to  me,  and  the  partition  was  very  thin,  I  distinctly  heard 
his  last  sigh,  when  his  immortal  part  quitted  its  frail 
tenement,  and,  I  trust,  winged  its  way  to  the  mansions  of 
eternal  bliss. 

"But  severer  trials  awaited  us,  and  on  the  7th  of  Octo 
ber  our  misfortunes  began ;  I  was  at  breakfast  with  my 
husband,  and  heard  that  something  was  intended.  On 
the  same  day  I  expected  Generals  Burgoyne,  Phillips  and 
Frazer  to  dine  with  us.  I  saw  a  great  movement  among 
'the  troops ;  my  husband  told  me  it  was  merely  a  r^con- 
noisance,  which  gave  me  no  concern,  as  it  often  happened. 
I  walked  out  of  the  house,  and  met  several  Indians  in 


APPENDIX. 


363 


their  war  dresses,  with  guns  in  their  hands.  When  I 
asked  them  where  they  were  going,  they  cried  out,  'War! 
war!'  meaning  that  they  were  going  to  battle.  This  filled 
me  with  apprehension,  and  I  had  scarcely  got  home  before 
I  heard  reports  of  cannon  and  musketry,  which  grew 
louder  by  degress,  till  at  last  the  noise  became  excessive. 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  instead  of  the  guests 
whom  I  expected,  General  Frazer  was  brought  on  a  litter, 
mortally  wounded.  The  table,  which  was  already  set, 
was  instantly  removed,  and  a  bed  placed  in  its  stead  for 
the  wounded  general.  I  sat  trembling  in  a  corner;  the 
noise  grew  louder,  and  the  alarm  increased ;  the  thought 
that  my  husband  might  perhaps  be  brought  in,  wounded 
in  the  same  manner,  was  terrible  to  me,  and  distressed  me 
exceedingly.  General  Frazer  said  to  the  surgeon,  'Tell 
me  if  my  wound  is  mortal;  do  not  flatter  me.'  The  ball 
had  passed  through  his  body,  and,  unhappily  for  the  gen 
eral,  he  had  eaten  a  very  hearty  breakfast,  by  which  the 
stomach  was  distended,  and  the  ball,  as  the  surgeon  said, 
had  passed  through  it.  I  heard  him  often  exclaim,  with 
a  sigh,  'Oh,  fatal  ambition!  Poor  General  Burgoyne! 
Oh,  my  poor  wife !'  He  was  asked  if  he  had  any  request 
to  niake,  to  which  he  replied,  that,  'If  General  Burgoyne 
would  permit  it,  he  should  like  to  be  buried  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  on  the  top  of  a  mountain,  in  a  redoubt 
which  had  been  built  there.'  I  did  not  know  which  way 
to  turn:  all  the  other  rooms  were  full  of  sick.  Towards 
evening  I  saw  my  husband  coming.  Then  I  forgot  all 
my  sorrows,  and  thanked  God  that  he  was  spared  to  me. 
He  ate  in  great  haste  with  me  and  his  aid-de-camp,  behind 
the  house.  We  had  been  told  that  we  had  the  advantage 
over  the  enemy,  but  the  sorrowful  faces  I  beheld  told  a 
different  tale,  and  before  my  husband  went  away  he  took 
me  aside,  and  said  every  thing  was  going  very  badly;  that 
I  must  keep  myself  in  readiness  to  leave  the  place,  but 
not  to  mention  it  to  any  one.  I  made  the  pretence  that 
I  would  move  the  next  morning  into  my  new  house,  and 
had  every  thing  packed  up  ready. 

''Lady  Ackland  had  a  tent  not  far  from  our  house;  in 

this  she  slept,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  she  was  in  the  camp. 

All  of  a  sudden  a  man  came  to  tell  her  that  her  husband 

was  mortally  wounded  and  taken  prisoner;  on  hearing 

24 


364  APPENDIX. 

this  she  became  very  miserable;  we  comforted  her  by  tell 
ing  her  that  the  wound  was  only  slight,  and  at  the  same 
time  advised  her  to  go  over  to  her  husband,  to  do  which, 
she  would  certainly  obtain  permission,  and  then  she  would 
attend  him  herself;  she  was  a  charming  woman,  and  very 
fond  of  him.  I  spent  much  of  the  night  in  comforting 
her,  and  then  went  again  to  my  children,  whom  I  had  put 
to  bed.  I  could  not  go  to  sleep,  as  I  had  General  Frazer 
and  all  the  other  wounded  gentlemen  in  my  room,  and  I 
was  sadly  afraid  my  children  would  wake,  and  by  their 
crying  disturb  the  dying  man  in  his  last  moments,  who 
often  addressed  me,  and  apologized  ''for  the  trouble  he  gave 
me.1  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  was  told  that 
he  could  not  hold  out  much  longer;  I  had  desired  to  be 
informed  of  the  near  approach  of  this  sad  crisis,  and  I  then 
wrapped  up  my  children  in  their  clothes,  and  went  with 
them  into  the  room  below.  About  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning  he  died.  After  he  was  laid  out,  and  his  corpse 
wrapped  up  in  a  sheet,  we  came  again  into  the  room,  and 
had  this  sorrowful  sight  before  us  the  whole  day,  and,  to 
add  to  the  melancholy  scene,  almost  every  moment  some 
officer  of  my  acquaintance  was  brought  in  wounded.  The 
cannonade  commenced  again;  a  retreat  was  spoken  of,  but 
not  the  smallest  motion  was  made  towards  it.  About  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  I  saw  the  house  which  had  just 
been  built  for  me  in  flames,  and  the  enemy  was  now  not 
far  off.  We  knew  that  General  Burgoyne  would  not  re 
fuse  the  last  request  of  General  Frazer,  though,  by  his 
acceding  to  it,  an  unnecessary  delay  was  occasioned,  by 
which  the  inconvenience  of  the  army  was  much  increased. 
At  six  o'clock  the  corpse  was  brought  out,  and  we  saw 
all  the  generals  attend  it  to  the  mountain ;  the  chaplain, 
Mr.  Brudenell,  performed  the  funeral  service,  rendered 
unusually  solemn  and  awful  from  its  being  accompanied 
by  constant  peals  from  the  enemy's  artillery.  Many  can 
non-balls  flew  close  by  me,  but  I  had  my  eyes  directed 
towards  the  mountain,*  where  my  husband  was  standing, 
amidst  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  of  course  I  could  not 
think  of  my  own  danger. 

"General  Gates  afterwards  said  that,  if  he  had  known 

*  The  height  occupied  by  Burgoyne  on  the  18th,  which  ran  parallel 
with  the  river  till  it  approached  General  Gates'  camp. 


APPENDIX. 

it  had  been  a  funeral,  he  would  not  have  permitted  it  to 
be  fired  on. 

"So  soon  as  the  funeral-service  was  finished,  and  the 
grave  of  General  Frazer  was  closed,  an  order  was  issued 
that  the  army  should  retreat.  My  calash  was  prepared, 
but  I  would  not  consent  to  go  before  the  troops.  Major 
Harnage,  though  suffering  from  his  wounds,  crept  from 
his  bed,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  remain  in  the  hospital,  which 
was  left  with  a  flag  of  truce.-  When  General  Keidesel  saw 
me  in  the  midst  of  danger,  he  ordered  my  women  and 
children  to  be  brought  into  the  calash,  and  intimated  to 
me  to  depart  without  delay.  I  still  prayed  to  remain,  but 
my  husband,  knowing  my  weak  side,  said,  'Well,  then, 
your  children  must  go,  that  at  least  they  may  be  safe  from 
danger.'  I  then  agreed  to  enter  the  calash  with  them,  and 
we  set  off  at  eight  o'clock. 

"The  retreat  was  ordered  to  be  conducted  with  the 
greatest  silence;  many  fires  were  lighted,  and  several  tents 
left  standing ;  we  travelled  continually  during  the  night. 
At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  halted,  which  excited 
the  surprise  of  all;  General  Burgoyne  had  the  cannon 
ranged  and  counted;  this  delay  seemed  to  displease  every 
body,  for  if  we  could  only  have  made  another  good  march, 
we  should  have  been  in  safety.  My  husband,  quite  ex 
hausted  with  fatigue,  came  into  my  calash,  and  slept  for 
three  hours.  During  that  time,  Captain  Willoe  brought 
me  a  bag  full  of  bank  notes,  and  Captain  Grismar  his 
elegant  watch,  a  ring,  and  a  purse  full  of  money,  which 
they  requested  me  to  take  care  of,  and  which  I  promised 
to  do  to  the  utmost  of  my  power.  We  again  marched,  but 
had  scarcely  proceeded  an  hour  before  we  halted,  as  the 
enemy  was  in  sight;  it  proved  to  be  only  a  reconnoitering 
party  of  two  hundre-d  men,  who  might  easily  have  been 
made  prisoners,  if  General  Burgoyne  had  given  proper 
orders  on  the  occasion. 

"The  Indians  had  now  lost  their  courage,  and  were 
departing  for  their  homes;  these  people  appeared  to  droop 
much  under  adversity,  and  especially  when  they  had  no 
prospect  of  plunder.  One  of  my  waiting-women  was  in 
a  state  of  despair,  which  approached  to  madness;  she 
cursed  and  tore  her  hair,  and  when  I  attempted  to  reason 
with  her,  and  to  pacify  her,  she  asked  me  if  I  was  not 


366  APPENDIX. 

grieved  at  our  situation,  and  on  my  saying  I  was,  she  tore 
her  cap  off  her  head  and  let  her  hair  drop  over  her  face, 
saying  to  me,  'It  is  very  easy  for  you  to  be  composed  and 
talk :  you  have  your  husband  with  you ;  I  have  none ;  and 
what  remains  to  me  but  the  prospect  of  perishing  or  losing 
all  I  have!'  I  again  bade  her  take  comfort,  and  assured 
her  I  would  make  good  whatever  she  might  happen  to 
lose ;  and  I  made  the  same  promise  to  Ellen,  my  other  wait 
ing-woman,  who,  though  filled  with  apprehensions,  made 
no  complaints.  * 

"About  evening  we  arrived  at  Saratoga;  my  dress  was 
wet  through  and  through  with  rain,  and  in  this  state  I  had 
to  remain  the  whole  night,  having  no  place  to  change  it; 
I,  however,  got  close  to  a  large  fire,  and  at  last  lay  down 
on  some  straw.  At  this  moment  General  Phillips  came 
up  to  me,  and  I  asked  him  why  he  had  not  continued  our 
retreat,  as  my  husband  had  promised  to  cover  it  and  bring 
the  army  through?  'Poor,  dear  woman,'  said  he,  'I  won 
der  how,  drenched  as  you  are,  you  have  the  courage  still 
to  persevere  and  venture  further  in  this  kind  of  weather! 
I  wish,'  continued  he,  'you  was  our  commanding-general; 
General  Burgoyne  is  tired,  and,  means  to  halt  here  to-night 
and  give  us  our  supper.' 

"On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  at  ten  o'clock,  General 
Burgoyne  ordered  the  retreat  to  be  continued,  and  caused 
the  handsome  houses  and  mills  of  General  Schuyler  to  be 
burned;  we  marched,  however,  but  a  short  distance,  and 
then  halted.  The  greatest  misery  at  this  time  prevailed 
in  the  army,  and  more  than  thirty  officers  came  to  me,  for 
whom  tea  and  coffee  was  prepared,  and  with  whom  I  shared 
all  my  provisions,  with  which  my  calash  was  in  general 
well  supplied;  for  I  had  a  cook  who -was  an  excellent 
caterer,  and  who  often  in  the  night  crossed  small  rivers 
and  foraged  on  the  inhabitants,  bringing  in  with  him  sheep, 
small  pigs,  arid  poultry,  for  which  he  very  often  forgot  to 
pay,  though  he  received  good  pay  from  me  so  long  as  I 
had  any,  and  was  ultimately  handsomely  rewarded.  Our 
provisions  now  failed  us  for  want  of  proper  conduct  in  the 
commissary's  department,  and  I  began  to  despair.  About 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  again  heard  a  firing  of 
cannon  and  small-arms;  instantly  all  was  alarm,  and  every 
thing  in  motion.  My  husband  told  me  to  go  to  a  house 


APPENDIX.  3(57 

not  far  off;  I  immediately  seated  myself  in  my  calash, 
with  my  children,  and  drove  off;  but  scarcely  had  we 
reached  it  before  I  discovered  five  or  six  armed  men  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Hudson;  instinctively  I  threw  my 
children  down  in  the  calash,  and  then  concealed  myself 
with  them ;  at  this  moment  the  fellows  fired  and  wounded 
an  already  wounded  English  soldier,  who  was  behind  me. 
Poor  fellow !  I  pitied  him  exceedingly,  but  at  this  moment 
had  no  means  or  power  to  relieve  him.  A  terrible  can 
nonade  was  commenced  by  the  enemy,  which  was  directed 
against  the  house  in  which  I  sought  to  obtain  shelter  for  my 
self  and  children,  under  the  mistaken  idea  that  all  the  gener 
als  were  in  it.  Alas!  it  contained  none  but  wounded  and 
women;  we  were  at  last  obliged  to  resort  to  the  cellar  for 
refuge,  and  in  one  corner  of  this  I  remained  the  whole 
day,  my  children  sleeping  on  the  earth  with  their  heads 
in  my  lap;  and  in  the  same  situation  I  passed  a  sleepless 
night. — Eleven  cannon-balls  passed  through  the  house, 
and  we  could  distinctly  hear  them  roll  away.  One  poor 
soldier,  who  was  lying  on  a  table  for  the  purpose  of  having 
his  leg  amputated,  was  struck  by  a  shot,  which  carried 
away  his  other;  his  comrades  had  left  him,  and  when  we 
went  to  his  assistance  we  found  him  in  a  corner  of  the 
room,  into  which  he  had  crept,  more  dead  than  alive, 
scarcely  breathing.  My  reflections  on  the  danger  to 
which  my  husband  was  exposed  now  agonized  me  ex 
ceedingly,  and  the  thoughts  of  my  children  and  the 
necessity  of  struggling  for  their  preservation  alone  sus 
tained  me.  •  ' 

"The  ladies  of  the  army  who  were  with  me  were  Mrs. 
Harnage,  a  Mrs.  Kennels,  the  widow  of  a  lieutenant  who 
was  killed,  and  the  lady  of  the  commissary.  Major  Har 
nage,  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Kennels,  made  a  little  room  in  a 
corner  with  curtainsto  it,  and  wished  to  do  the  same  for 
me,  but  I  preferred  being  near  the  door,  in  case  of  fire. 
Not  far  off,  my  women  slept,  and  opposite  to  us  three  Eng 
lish  officers,  who,  though  wounded,  were  determined  not  to 
be  left  behind:  one  of  them  was  Captain  Green,  an  aid-de 
camp  to  Major-General  Phillips,  a  very  valuable  officer 
and  most  agreeable  man.  They  each  made  me  a  most 
sacred  promise  not  to  leave  me  behind,  and  in  case  of  sud 
den  retreat,  that  they  would  each  of  them  take  one  of  my 


368  APPENDIX. 

children  on  his  horse,  and  for  myself,  one  of  my  husband's 
was  in  constant  readiness. 

"Our  cook,  whom  I  have  before  mentioned,  procured 
us  our  meals,  but  we  were  in  want  of  water,  and  I  was 
often  obliged  to  drink  wine  and  to  give  it  to  my  children. 
It  was  the  only  thing  my  husband  took,  which  made  our 
faithful  Hunter,  Rockel,  express  one  day  his  apprehensions 
that  'the  general  was  weary  of  his  life,  or  fearful  of  being 
taken,  as  he  drank  so  much  wine.'  The  constant  danger 
which  my  husband  was  in,  kept  me  in  a  state  of  wretched 
ness,  and  I  asked  myself  if  it  was  possible  I  should  be  the 
only  happy  one,  and  have  my  husband  spared  to  me  unhurt, 
exposed  as  he  was  to  so  many  perils.  He  never  entered 
his  tent,  but  laid  down  whole  nights  by  the  watch-fires; 
this  alone  was  enough  to  have  killed  him,  the  cold  was 
'so  intense. 

"The  want  of  water  distressed  us  much.  At  length, 
we  found  a  soldiers  wife  who  had  courage  enough  to 
fetch  us  some  from  the  river,  an  office  nobody  else  would 
undertake,  as  the  Americans  shot  at  every  person  who 
approached  it;  but  out  of  respect  for  her  sex  they  never 
molested  her. 

"I  now  occupied  myself  through  the  day  in  attending 
the  wounded;  I  made  them  tea  and  coffee,  and  often  shared 
my  dinner  with  them,  for  which  they  offered  me  a  thou 
sand  expressions  of  gratitude.  One  day  a  Canadian  officer 
came  to  our  cellar,  who  had  scarcely  the  power  of  holding 
himself  upright,  and  we  concluded  he  was  dying  for  want 
of  nourishment;  I  was  happy  in  offering  him  my  dinner, 
which  strengthened  him  and  procured  me  his  friendship. 
I  now  undertook  the  care  of  Major  Bloomfield,  another 
aid-de-camp  of  General  Phillips;  he  had  received  a  mus 
ket-ball  through  both  cheeks,  which  in  its  course  had 
knocked  out  several  of  his  teeth,  and  cut  his  tongue;  he 
could  hold 'nothing  in  his  mouth;  the  matter  which  ran 
from  his  wound  almost  choked  him,  and  he  was  not  able 
to  take  any  nourishment  except  a  little  soup,  or  something 
liquid;  we  had  some  Rhenish  wine,  and  in  the  hope  that 
the  acidity  of  it  would  cleanse  his  wound,  I  gave  him  a 
bottle  of  it;  he  took  a  little  now  and  then,  and  with  such 
effect  that  his  cure  soon  followed.  Thus  I  added  another 
to  my  stock  of  friends,  and  derived  a  satisfaction  which, 


APPENDIX.  369 

in  the  midst  of  sufferings,  served  to  tranquillize  me  and 
diminish  their  acuteness. 

"One  day  General  Phillips  accompanied  my  husband, 
at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  on  a  visit  to  us,  who,  after  having 
witnessed  our  situation,  said  to  him,  'I  would  not  for  ten 
thousand  guineas  come  again  to  this  place;  my  heart  is 
almost  broken.' 

"In  this  horrid  situation  we  remained  six  days;  a  cessa 
tion  of  hostilities  was  now  spoken  of,  and  eventually  took 
place;  a  convention  was  afterwards  agreed  on;  but  one 
day  a  message  was  sent  to  my  husband,  who  had  visited 
me  and  was  reposing  in  my  bed,  to  attend  a  council  of 
war,  where  it  was  proposed  to  break  the  convention:  but, 
to  my  great  joy,  the  majority  were  for  adhering  to  it.  On 
the  l6th,  however,  my  husband  had  to  repair  to  his  post, 
and  I  to  my  cellar;  -this  day  fresh  beef  was  served  out  to 
the  officers,  who  till  now  had  only  had  salt  provisions, 
which  was  very  bad  for  their  wounds.  The  good  woman 
who  brought  us  water,  made  us  an  excellent  soup  of  the 
meat,  but  I  had  lost  my  appetite,,  and  took  nothing  but 
crusts  of  bread  dipped  in  wine.  The  wounded  officers,  my 
unfortunate  companions,  cut  off  the  best  bit  and  presented 
it  to  me  on  a  plate.  I  declined  eating  any  thing,  but  they 
contended  that  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  take  nourishment, 
and  declared  they  would  not  touch  a  morsel  till  I  afforded 
them  the  pleasure  of  seeing  me  partake.  I  could  no  longer 
withstand  their  pressing  invitations,  accompanied  as  they 
were  by  assurances  of  the  happiness  they  had  in  offering 
me  the  first  good  thing  they  had  in  their  power,  and  I 
partook  of  a  repast  rendered  palatable  by  the  kindness 
and  good- will  of  my  fellow-sufferers,  forgetting  for  the 
moment  the  misery  of  our  apartment,  and  the  absence  of 
almost  every  comfort. 

"On  the  17th  of  October,  the  convention  was  completed. 
General  Burgoyne  and  the  other  generals  waited  on  the 
American  General  Gates;  the  troops  laid  down  their  arms, 
and  gave  themselves  up  prisoners  of  war!  And  now  the 
good  woman  who  had  supplied  us  with  water  at  the  hazard 
of  her  life,  received  the  reward  of  her  services;  each  of 
us  threw  a  handful  of  money  into  her  apron,  and  she  got 
altogether  about  twenty  guineas.  At  such  a  moment  as 
this,  how  susceptible  is  the  heart  of  feelings  of  gratitude! 


370  APPENDIX. 

"  My  husband  sent  a  message  to  me  to  come  over  to  him 
with  my  children.  I  seated  myself  once  more  in  my  dear 
calash,  and  then  rode  through  the  American  camp.  As 
I  passed  on,  I  observed  (and  this  was  a  great  consolation 
to  me")  that  no  one  eyed  me  with  looks  of  resentment,  but 
that  tney  all  greeted  us,  and  even  showed  compassion  in 
their  countenances  at  the  sight  of  a  woman  with  small 
children.  I  was,  I  confess,  afraid  to  go  over  to  the  enemy, 
as  it  was  quite  a  new  situation  to  me.  When  I  drew  near 
the  tents,  a  handsome  man  approached  and  met  me,  took 
my  children  from  the  calash,  and  hugged  and  kissed  them,  which 
affected  me  almost  to  tears.  'You  tremble,'  said  he,  address 
ing  himself  to  me;  'be  not  afraid.'  'No,' I  answered;  'you 
seem  so  kind  and  tender  to  my  children,  it  inspires  me 
with  courage.'  He  now  led  me  to  the  tent  of  General 
Gates,  where  I  found  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Phillips, 
who  were  on  a  friendly  footing  with  the  former.  Bur 
goyne  said  to  me,  'Never  mind;  your  sorrows  have  now 
an  end.'  I  answered  him,  'that  I  should  be  reprehensible 
"to  have  any  cares,  as  he  had  none;'  and  I  was  pleased  to 
see  him  on  such  a  friendly  footing  with  General  Gates. 
All  the  generals  remained  to  dine  with  General  Gates. 

"The  same  gentleman  who  received  me  so  kindly,  now 
came  and  said  to  me,  'You  will  be  very  much  embarrassed 
to  eat  with  all  these  gentlemen ;  come  with  your  children 
to  my  tent,  where  I  will  prepare  for  you  a  frugal  dinner, 
and  give  it  with  a  free  will.'  I  said,  '  You  are  certainly  a 
husband  and  a  father,  you  have  shown  me  so  much  kind 
ness.'  I  now  found  that  he  was  General  Schuyler.  He 
treated  me  with  excellent  smoked  tongue,  beef-steaks, 
potatoes,  and  good  bread  and  butter!  Never  could  I  have 
wished  to  "eat  a  better  dinner;  I  was  content:  I  saw  all 
around  me  were  so  likewise;  and,  what  was  better  than 
all,  my  husband  was  out  of  danger.  When  we  had  dined, 
he  told  me  his  residence  was  at  Albany,  and  that  General 
Burgoyne  intended  to  honor  him  as  his  guest,  and  invited 
myself  and  children  to  do  so  likewise.  I  asked  my  hus 
band  how  I  should  act;  he  told  me  to  accept  the  invitation. 
As  it  was  two  days' journey  there,  he  advised  me  to  go  to 
a  place  which  was  about  three  hours'  ride  distant.  Gen 
eral  Schuyler  had  the  politeness  to  send  with  me  a  French 
officer,  a  very  agreeable  man,  who  commanded  the  recon- 


APPENDIX.  371 

noitering  party,  of  which  I  have  before  spoken ;  and  when 
he  had  escorted  rne  to  the  house  where  I  was  to  remain, 
he  turned  back  again.  In  the  house,  I  found  a  French 
surgeon,  who  had  under  his  care  a  Brunswick  officer,  who 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  some  few  days  after 
wards.  The  Frenchman  boasted  much  of  the  care  he  took 
of  his  patient,  and  perhaps  was  skillful  enough  as  a  sur 
geon,  but  otherwise  was  a  mere  simpleton ;  he  was  rejoiced 
when  he  found  ouf  I  could  speak  his  language,  and  began 
to  address  many  empty  and  impertinent  speeches  to  me. 
He  said,  among  other  things,  he  could  not  believe  that  I 
was  a  general's  wife,  as  he  was  certain  a  woman  of  such 
rank  would  not'follow  her  husband;  he  wished  me  to  re 
main  with  him,  as  he  said  it  was  better  to  be  with  the 
conquerors  than  the  conquered.  I  was  shocked  at  his 
impudence,  but  dared  not  show  the  contempt  and  disdain 
I  felt  for  him,  because  it  would  deprive  me  of  a  place  of 
safety.  Towards  evening  he  begged  me  to  take  a  part  of 
his  chamber.  I  told  him  I  was  determined  to  remain  in 
the  room  with  the  wounded  officer;  whereon  he  attempted 
to  pay  me  some  stupid  compliments.  At  this  moment  the 
door  opened,  and  my  husband  with  his  aid-de-camp  entered. 
I  then  said,  'Here,  sir,  is  my  husband,'  and  at  the  same 
time  eyed  him  with  scorn,  whereon  he  retired  abashed; 
nevertheless  he  was  so  polite  as  to  offer  his  chamber  to  us. 

'•'Some  days  after  this  we  arrived  at  Albany,  where  we 
so  often  wished  ourselves;  but  we  did  not  enter  it  as  we 
expected  we  should — victors !  We  were  received  by  the 
good  General  Schuyler,  his  wife,  and  daughters,  not  as  ene 
mies,  but  kind  friends,  and  they  treated  us  with  the  most 
marked  attention  and  politeness,  as  they  did  General  Bur- 
goyne,  who  had  caused  General  Schuyler's  beautifully 
finished  house  to  be  burned.  In  fact,  they  behaved  like 
persons  of  exalted  minds,  who  determined  to  bury  all  re 
collection  of  their  own  injuries  in  the  contemplation  of  our 
misfortunes.  General  Burgoyne  was  struck  with  General 
Schuyler's  generosity,  and  said  to  him,  'You  show  me 
great  kindness,-  though  I  have  done  you  much  injury.' 
'That  was  the  fate  of  war,'  replied  the  brave  man;  'let  us 
say  no  more  about  it.' " 


372  APPENDIX. 


NOTE  III.— See  Page  126. 

MR.  BUSHNELL'S  squadron  of  kegs,  committed  to  the 
Delaware  in  1777,  produced  an  unprecedented  alarm 
among  the  British  fleet  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  singular 
catastrophe  was,  by  the  Hon.  Francis  Hopkinson,  made  a 
subject  of  the  following  song,  which  has  been,  and  ever  will 
be,  celebrated  for  the  brilliancy  of  its  wit  and  humor: 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  KEGS,  A  SONG.  t 

TUNE — Moggy  Lawder. 

Gallants,  attend,  and  hear  a  friend 

Trill  forth  harmonious  ditty; 
Strange  things  I'll  tell,  which  late  befell 

In  Philadelphia  city. 

'Twas  early  day,  as  poets  say, 

Just  when  the  sun  was  rising, 
A  soldier  stood  on  log  of  wood, 

And  saw  a  sight  surprising. 

As  in  a  maze  he  stood  to  gaze — 

The  truth  can't  be  denied,  sir — 
He  spied  a  score  of  kegs  or  more 

Come  floating  down  the  tide,  sir. 

A  sailor,  too,  in  jerkin  blue, 

The  strange  appearance  viewing, 
First  damn'd  his  eyes,  in  great  surprise, 

Then  said,  "Some  mischief's  brewing: 

"These  kegs  now  hold  the  rebels  bold, 

Pack'd  up  like  pickled  herring; 
And  they're  come  down  t'  attack  the  town 

In  this  new  way  of  ferrying." 

The  soldier  flew;  the  sailor  too ; 

And  scared  almost  to  death,  sir, 
Wore  out  their  shoes  to  spread  the  news, 

And  ran  till  out  of  breath,  sir. 

Now  up  and  down,  throughout  the  town, 

Most  frantic  scenes  were  acted ; 
And  some  ran  here,  and  some  ran  there, 

Like  men  almost  distracted. 

Some  fire  cried,  which  some  denied, 

But  said  the  earth  had  qunkedi 
And  girls  and  boys,  with  hideous  noise, 

Ran  through  the  town  half-naked. 


APPENDIX.  373 

Sir  William*  he,  snug  as  a  flea, 

Lay  all  this  time  a  snoring; 
Nor  dreamt  of  harm,  as  he  lay  warm; 

In  bed  with  Mrs.  L ng.f 

Now  in  a  fright  he  starts  upright, 

Awaked  by  such  a  clatter ; 
He  rubs  both  eyes,  and  boldly  cries, 

"For  God's  sake,  what's  the  matter]** 

At  his  bed-side  he  -then  espied 

Sir  ErskineJ  at  command,  sir; 
Upon  one  foot  he  had  one  boot, 

And  t'other  in  his  hand,  sir. 

"Arise!  arise!"  Sir  Erskine  cries; 

"The  rebels — more's  the  pity — 
Without  a  boat,  are  all  on  float, 

And  ranged  before  the  city. 

The  motley  crew,  in  vessels  new, 

With  Satan  for  their  guide,  sir, 
Pack'd  up  in  bags,  or  wooden  kegs, 

Come  driving  down  the  tide,  sir: 

Therefore  prepare  for  bloody  war; 

These  kegs  must  all  be  routed, 
Or  surely  we  despised  shall  be, 

And  British  courage  doubted." 

The  royal  band  now  ready  stand, 

All  arranged  in  dread  array,  sir, 
With  stomachs  stout,  to  see  it  out, 

And  make  a  bloody  day,  sir. 

The  cannons  roar  from  shore  to  shore, 

The  small  arms  make  a  rattle: 
Since  wars  began,  I'm  sure  no  man 

E'er  saw  so  strange  a  battle. 

The  rebel  vales,  the  rebel  dales, 

With  rebel  trees  surrounded, 
The  distant  woods,  the  hills  and  floods, 

With  rebel  echoes  sounded. 

*  Sir  William  Howe. 

f  The  wife  of  Joshua  Loring,  a  refugee  from  Boston,  made  commis 
sary  of  prisoners  by  General  Howe.  "The  consummate  cruelties  prac 
tised  on  the  American  prisoners  under  his  administration,  almost  exceed 
the  ordinary  powers  of  human  invention.  Th«  conduct  of  the  Turks 
in  putting  all  prisoners  to  death,  is  certainly  much  more  rational  and 
humane,  than  that  of  the  British  army  for  the  first  three  years  of  the 
American  war,  or  till  after  the  capture  of  Burgoyne." 
Sir  William  Erskine. 


374  APPENDIX. 

The  fish  below  swam  to  and  fro, 

Attack'd  from  every  quarter; 
"Why  sure,"  thought  they,  "the  devil's  to  pay 

•"Mongst  folks  above  the  water." 

The  kegs,  'tis  said,  though  strongly  made 
Of  rebel  staves  and  hoops,  sir, 

Could  not  oppose  their  pow'rful  foes, 
The  conqu'ring  British  troops,  sir. 

From  morn  to  night  these  men  of  might 

Display'd  amazing  courage: 
And  when  the  sun  was  fairly  down, 

Retired  to  sup  their  porridge. 

A  hundred  men,  with  each  a  pen, 

Or  more,  upon  my  word,  sir, 
It  is  most  true,  would  be  too  few 

Their  valor  to  record,  sir. 

Such  feats  did  they  perform  that  day, 
Upon  these  wicked  kegs,  sir, 

That  years  to  come,  if  they  get  home, 
They'll  make  their  boasts  and  brags,  sir. 


NOTE  IV.— See  Page  259. 

THE  following  is  an  abstract  of  an  interesting  narrative 
taken  from  the  travels  of  the  late  Dr.  Dwight: 

After  the  failure  of  the  expedition  against  the  British, 
garrison  at  Penobscot,  General  Peleg  Wads  worth  was  ap 
pointed  in  the  spring  of  1780  to  the  command  of  a  party 
of  state  troops  in  Camden,  in  the  District  of  Maine.  At 
the  expiration  of  the  period  for  which  the  troops  were 
engaged,  in  February  following,  General  Wadsworth  dis 
missed  his  troops,  retaining  six  soldiers  only  as  his  guard, 
and  he  was  making  preparations  to  depart  from  the  place. 
A  neighboring  inhabitant  communicated  his  situation  to 
the  British  commander  at  Penobscot,  and  a  party  of  twenty- 
five  soldiers,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Stockton,  was  sent 
to  make  him  a  prisoner.  They  embarked  in  a  small 
schooner,  and  landing  within  four  miles  of  the  general's 
quarters,  they  were  concealed  at  the  house  of  one  Snow, 
a  methodist  preacher,  professedly  a  friend  to  him,  but 
really  a  traitor,  till  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  where 
they  made  their  arrangements  for  the  attack  on  the  gen- 


APPENDIX.  375 

eral's  quarters.  The  party  rushed  suddenly  on  the  senti 
nel,  who  gave  the  alarm,  and  one  of  his  comrades  instantly 
opened  the  door  of  the  kitchen,  and  the  enemy  were  so  near 
as  to  enter  with  the  sentinel.  The  lady  of  the  general,  and 
her  friend  Miss  Fenno,  of  Boston,  were-  in  the  house  at  the 
time,  and  Mrs.  Wadsworth  escaped  from  the  room  of  her 
husband  into  that  of  Miss  Fenno.  The  assailants  soon 
became  masters  of  the  whole  house,  except  the  room  where 
the  general  was,  and  which  was  strongly  barred,  and  they 
kept  up  a  constant  firing  of  musketry  into  the  windows 
and  doors,  except  into  those  of  the  ladies'  room.  General 
Wadsworth -was  provided  with  a  pair  of  pistols,  a  blunder 
buss  and  a  fusee,  which  he  employed  with  great  dexterity, 
being  determined  to  defend  himself  to  the  last  moment 
With  his  pistols,  which  he  discharged  several  times,  he 
defended  the  windows  of  his  room  and  a  door  which  opened 
into  the  kitchen.'  His  blunderbuss  he  snapped  several 
times,  but  unfortunately  it  missed  fire.  He  then  seized 
his  fusee,  which  he  discharged  on  some  who  were  breaking 
through  one  of  the  windows,  and  obliged  them  to  flee. 
He  next  defended  himself  with  his  bayonet,  till  he  received 
a  ball  through  his  left  arm,  when  he  surrendered,  which 
terminated  the  contest.  The  firing,  however,  did  not  cease 
from  the  kitchen  till  the  general  unbarred  the  door,  when 
the  soldiers  rushed  into  the  room,  and  one  of  them  who 
had  been  badly  wounded,  pointing  a  musket  at  hjs  breast, 
exclaimed,  with  an  oath,  "  You  have  taken  my  life,  and  I 
will  take  yours."  But  Lieutenant  Stockton  turned  the 
musket,  and  saved  his  life.  The  commanding  officer  now 
applauded  the  general  for  his  admirable  defence,  and  assist 
ed  in  putting  on  his  clothes,  saying,  "You  see  we  are  in  a 
critical  situation :  you  must  excuse  haste."  Mrs.  Wadsworth 
threw  a  blanket  over  him,  and  Miss  Fenno  appilied  a  hand 
kerchief  closely  round  his  wounded  arm.  In  this  condition, 
though  much  exhausted,  he,  with  a  wounded  American 
soldier,  was  directed  to  march  on  foot,  while  two  British 
wounded  soldiers  were  mounted  on  a  horse  taken  from  the 
general's  barn.  They  departed  in  great  haste.  When  they 
had  proceeded  about  a  mile,  they  met,  at  a  small  house,  a 
number  of  people  who  had  collected,  and  who  inquired 
if  they  had  taken  General  Wadsworth.  They  said  no, 
and  added,  that  they  must  leave  a  wounded  man  in  their 


376  APPENDIX. 

care,  and  if  they  paid  proper  attention  to  him  they  should 
be  compensated,  but  if  not,  they  would  burn  down  theii 
house ;  but  the  man  appeared  to  be  dying.  General  Wads 
worth  was  now  mounted  on  the  horse  behind  the  other 
wounded  soldier,  and  was  warned  that  his  safety  depended 
on  his  silence.  Having  crossed  over  a  frozen  mill-pond, 
about  a  mile  in  length,  they  were  met  by  some  of  their 
party  who  had  been  left  behind.  At  this  place  they  found 
the  British  privateer  which  brought  the  party  from  the 
fort.  The  captain,  on  being  told  that  he  must  return  there 
with  the  prisoner  and  the  party,  and  seeing  some  of  his 
men  wounded,  became  outrageous,  and  damned  the  general 
for  a  rebel,  demanded  how  he  dared  to  fire  on  the  king's 
troops,  arid  ordered  him  to  help  launch  the  boat,  or  he 
would  put  his  hanger  through  his  body.  The  general  re 
plied  that  he  was  a  prisoner,  and  badly  wounded,  and 
could  not  assist  in  launching  the  boat.  Lieutenant  Stock 
ton,  on  learning  of  this  abusive  treatment,  in  a  manner 
honorable  to  himself,  told  the  captain  that  the  prisoner  was 
a  gentleman,  had  made  a  brave  defence,  and  was  to  be 
treated  accordingly;  and  added,  that  his  conduct  should 
be  represented  to  General  Campbell.  After  this,  the  cap 
tain  treated  the  prisoner  with  great  civility,  and  afforded 
him  every  comfort  in  his  power.  General  Wadsworth 
had  left  the  ladies  in  the  house,  not  a  window  of  which 
escaped  destruction.  The  doors  were  broken  down,  and 
two  of  the  rooms  were  set  on  fire;  the  floors  covered  with 
blood,  and  on  one  of  them  lay  a  brave  old  soldier,  dan 
gerously  wounded,  begging  for  death,  that  he  might  be 
released  from  misery.  The  anxiety  and  distress  of  Mrs. 
Wadsworth  was  inexpressible,  and  that  of  the  general  was 
greatly  increased  by  the  uncertainty  in  his  mind  respect 
ing  the  fate  of  his  little  son,  only  five  years  old,  who  had 
been  exposed  to  every  danger  by  the  firing  into  the  house, 
but  he  had  the  happiness  afterwards  to  hear  of  his  safety. 
Having  arrived  at  the  British  post,  the  capture  of  General 
Wadsworth  was  soon  announced,  and  the  shore  thronged 
with  spectators,  to  see  the  man  who,  through  the  preceding 
year,  had  disappointed  all  the  designs  of  the  British  in  that 
quarter;  and  loud  shouts  were  heard  from  the  rabble 
which  covered  the  shore;  but  when  he  arrived  at  the  fort, 
and  was  conducted  into  the  officers'  guard-room,  he  was 


APPENDIX.  377 

treated  with  politeness.  General  Campbell,  the  command 
ant  of  the  British  garrison,  sent  his  compliments  to  him 
and  a  surgeon  to  dress  his  wounds,  assuring  him  that  his 
situation  should  be  made  comfortable.  The  next  morning, 
General  Campbell  invited  him  to  breakfast,  and  at  table 
paid  him  many  compliments  on  the  defence  he  had  made, 
observing,  however,  that  he  had  exposed  himself  in  a  de 
gree  not  perfectly  justifiable.  General  Wads  worth  replied 
that,  from  the  manner  of  the  attack,  he  had  no  reason  to 
suspect  any  design  of  taking  him  alive,  and  that  he  in 
tended  therefore  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 
"But,  sir,"  said  General  Campbell,  "I  understand  that  the 
captain  of  the  privateer  treated  you  very  ill ;  I  shall  see 
that  matter  set  right."  He  then  informed  the  prisoner 
that  a  room  in  the  officers'  barracks  within  the  ibrt  was 
prepared  for  him,  and  that  he  should  send  his  orderly -ser 
geant  daily  to  attend  him  to  breakfast  and  dinner  at  his 
table.  Having  retired  to  bis  solitary  apartment,  and  while 
his  spirits  were  extremely  depressed  by  a  recollection, of 
the  past,  and  by  his  present  situation,  he  received  from 
General  Campbell  several  books  of  amusement,  and  soon 
after  a  visit  from  him,  kindly  endeavoring  to  cheer  the 
spirits  of  his  prisoner  by  conversation.  Not  long  after, 
the  officers  of  the  party  called,  and  among  others  the  re 
doubtable  captain  of  the  privateer,  who  called  to  ask  pardon 
for  what  had  fallen  from  hirn  when  in  a  passion ;  adding, 
that  it  was  not  in  his  nature  to  treat  a  gentleman  prisoner 
ill;  that  the  unexpected  disappointment  of  his  cruise  had 
thrown  him  off  his  guard,  and  he  hoped  that  this  would 
be  deemed  a  sufficient  apology.  This  General  Wadsworth 
accepted.  At  the  hour  of  dining  he  was  invited  to  the 
table  of  the  commandant,  where  he  met  with  all  the  prin 
cipal  officers  of  the  garrison,  and  from  whom  he  received 
particular  attention  and  politeness.  General  Wadsworth 
soon  made  application  to  the  commandant  for  a  flag  of 
truce,  by  which  means  he  could  transmit  a  letter  to  the 
governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  another  to  Mrs.  Wads- 
worth.  This  was  granted,  on  the  condition  that  the  letter 
to  the  governor  should  be  inspected.  The  flag  was  in 
trusted  to  Lieutenant  Stockton,  and  on  his  return,  the 
general  was  relieved  from  all  anxiety  respecting  his  wife 
and  family.  General  Campbell  and  the  officers  of  the 


378  APPENDIX. 

garrison  continued  their  civilities  for  some  time,  and  en 
deavored  by  books  and  personal  visits  to  render  his  situa 
tion  as  pleasant  as  circumstances  would  admit  of.  At  the 
end  of  five  weeks,  his  wound  being  nearly  healed,  he  re 
quested  of  General  Campbell  the  customary  privilege  of 
a  parole,  and  received,  in  reply,  that  his  case  had  been 
reported  to  the  commanding  officer  at  New  York,  and 
that  no  alteration  could  be  made  till  orders  were  received 
from  that  quarter.  In  about  two  months,  Mrs.  Wadsworth 
and  Miss  Fennb  arrived,  and  General  Campbell  and  some 
of  the  officers  contributed  to  render  their  visit  agreeable 
to  all  concerned.  About  the  same  time,  orders  were  re 
ceived  from  the  commanding  general  at  New  York,  which 
were  concealed  from  General  Wadsworth,  but  he  finally 
learned  that  he  was  not  to  be  paroled  nor  exchanged,  but 
was  to  be  sent  to  England  as  a  rebel  of  too  much  conse 
quence  to  be  at  liberty.  Not  long  afterwards  Major 
Benjamin  Burton,  a  brave  and  worthy  man,  who  had 
served  under  General  Wadsworth  the  preceding  summer, 
was  taken  and  brought  into  the  fort,  and  lodged  in  the 
same  room  with  General  Wadsworth.  He  had  been  in 
formed  that  both  himself  and  the  General  were  to  be  sent, 
immediately  after  the  return  of  a  privateer  now  out  on  a 
cruise,  either  to  New  York  or  Halifax,  and  thence  to 
England.  The  prisoners  immediately  resolved  to  make  a 
desperate  attempt  to  effect  their  escape.  They  were  con 
fined  in  a  grated  room  in  the  officers'  barracks  within  the 
fort.  The  walls  of  this  fortress,  exclusively  of  the  depth 
of  the  ditch  surrounding  it,  were  twenty  feet  high,  with 
fraising  on  the  top,  and  chevaux  de  frise  at  the  bottom. 
Two  sentinels  were  always  in  the  entry,  and  their  door, 
the  upper  part  of  which  was  of  glass,  might  be  opened  by 
these  w.atchmen  whenever  they  thought  proper,  and  was 
actually  opened  at  seasons  of  peculiar  darkness  and  silence. 
At  the  exterior  doors  of  the  entries,  sentinels  were  also 
stationed,  as  were  others  in  the  body  of  the  fort,  and  at 
the  quarters  of  General  Campbell.  At  the  guard-house,  a 
strong  guard  was  daily  mounted.  Several  sentinels  were 
stationed  on  the  walls  of  the  fort,  and  a  complete  line 
occupied  them  by  night.  Without  the  ditch,  glacis  and 
abatis,  another  complete  set  of  soldiers  patroled  through 
the  night  also.  The  gate  of  the  fort  was  shut  at  sun-set, 


APPENDIX.  379 

and  a  piquet-guard  was  placed  on  or  near  the  isthmus 
leading  from  the  fort-  to  the  main  land. 

The  room  in  which  they  were  confined  was  railed  with 
boards.  One  of  these  they  determined  to  cut  off,  so  as  to 
make  a  hole  large  enough  to  pass  through,  and  then  to 
creep  along  till  they  should  come  to  the  next  or  middle 
entry;  and  then  lower  themselves  down  into  this  entry 
by  a  blanket.  If  they  should  not  be  discovered,  the  pass 
age  to  the  walls  of  the  fort  was  easy.  In  the  evening, 
after  the  sentinels  had  seen  the  prisoners  retire  to  bed, 
General  Wadsworth  got  up,  and,  standing  in  a  chair,  at 
tempted  to  cut  with  his  knife  the  intended  opening,  but 
soon  found  it  impracticable.  The  next  day,  by  giving  a 
soldier  a  dollar,  they  procured  a  gimblet.  With  this  in 
strument  they  proceeded  cautiously  and»as  silently  as 
possible  to  perforate  the  board,  and  in  order  to  conceal 
every  appearance  from  their  servants  and  from  the  officers 
their  visitors,  they  carefully  covered  the  gimblet-holes  with 
chewed  bread.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks  their  labors 
were  so  far  completed  that  it  only  remained  to  cut  with  a 
knife  the  parts  which  were  left  to  hold  the  piece  in  its 
place.  When  their  preparations  were  finished,  they  learned 
that  the  privateer  in  which  they  were  to  embark  was  daily 
expected.  In  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  June,  a  very 
severe  storm  of  rain,  with  great  darkness  and  almost  in 
cessant  lightning  came  on.  This  the  prisoners  considered 
as  the  propitious  moment.  Having  extinguished  their 
lights,  they  began  to  cut  the  corners  of  the  board,  and  in 
less  than  an  hour  the  intended  opening  was  completed. 
The  noise  which  the  operation  occasioned  was  drowned  by 
the  rain  falling  on  the  roof.  Major  Burton  first  ascended 
to  the  ceiling,  and  pressed  himself  through  the  opening. 
General  Wadsworth  next,  having  put  the  corner  of  his 
blanket  through  the  hole,  and  made  it  fast  by  a  strong 
wooden  skewer,  attempted  to  make  his  way  through, 
standing  on  a  chair  below,  but  it  was  with  extreme  difficulty 
that  he  at  length  effected  it,  and  reached  the  middle  entry. 
From  this  he  passed  through  the  door,  which  he  found 
open,  and  made  his  way  to  the  wall  of  the  fort,  and  had 
to  encounter  the  greatest  difficulty  before  he  could  ascend 
to  the  top.  lie  had  now  to  creep  along  the  top  of  the  fort 
between  the  sentry  boxes  at  the  very  moment  when  the 
25 


380  APPENDIX. 

relief  was  shifting  sentinels,  but  the  falling  of  heavy  rain 
kept  the  sentinels  within  their  boxes,  and  favored  his 
escape.  Having  now  fastened  his  blanket  round  a  picket 
at  the  top,  he  let  himself  down  through  the  chevaux  de 
/rise  to  the  ground,  and  in  a  manner  astonishing  to  him 
self  made  his  way  into  the  open  field.  Here  he  was  obliged 
to  grope  his  way  among  rocks,  stumps  and  brush  in  the 
darkness  of  night,  till  he  reached  the  cove;  happily  the 
tide  had  ebbed,  and  enabled  him  to  cross  the  water,  about 
a  mile  in  breadth  and  not  more  than 'three  feet  deep. 
About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  General  Wadsworth 
found  himself  a  rnile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,  and  he  pro 
ceeded  through  a  thick  wood  and  brush  to  the  Penobscot 
river,  and  after  passing  some  distance  along  the  shore, 
being  seven  rnjles  from  the  fort,  to  his  unspeakable  joy  he 
saw  his  friend  Burton  advancing  towards  him.  Major 
Burton  had  been  obliged  to  encounter  in  his  course  equal 
difficulties  with  his  companion,  and  such  were  the  incredi 
ble  perils,  dangers  and  obstructions  which  they  surmounted, 
that  their  escape  may  be  considered  almost  miraculous. 
It  was  now  necessary  they  should  cross  the  Penobscot 
river,  and  very  fortunately  they  discovered  a  canoe  with 
oars  on  the  shore  suited  to  their  purpose.  While  on  the 
river  they  discovered  a  barge  with  a  party  of  British  from 
the  fort  in  pursuit  of  them,  but  by  taking  an  oblique 
course,  and  plying  their  oars  to  the  utmost,  they  happily 
eluded  the  eyes  of  their  pursuers,  and  arrived  safe  on  the 
western  shore.  After  having  wandered  in  the  wilderness 
for  several  days  and  nights,  exposed  to  extreme  fatigue 
and  cold,  and  with  no  other  food  than  a  little  dry  bread 
and  meat,  which  they  brought  in  their  pockets  from  the 
fort,  they  reached  the  settlements  on  the  river  St.  George, 
and  no  further  difficulties  attended  their  return  to  their 
respective  families. 


NOTE  V. 


THERE  is  a  particular  transaction  in  the  history  of  our 
revolutionary  war,  which  was  known  only  to  General 
Washington  and  a  single  confidential  officer,  the  gallant 
Major  Lee,  commander  of  a  corps  of  cavalry.  As  the 


APPENDIX.  831 

story  is  particularly  interesting,  and  as  it  has  never  been 
disclosed  to  the  public  by  any  historian,  except  by  Major 
Lee  in  his  valuable  memoirs,  I  cannot  resist  the  tempta 
tion  of  enriching  tin's  work  with  the  narration,  in  the 
words  of  the  respectable  author. 

"Lately,  John  Champe,  sergeant-major  of  the  legion  of 
cavalry,  who  had  been  for  several  months  considered  by 
the  corps  a  deserter,  returned.  This  high-minded  soldier 
had  been  selected  to  undertake  a  very  difficult  and  peril 
ous  project,  the  narration  of  which  is  due  to  his  merit,  as 
well  as  to  the  singularity  of  his  progress. 

"The  treason  of  General  Arnold,  the  capture  of  Andre, 
with  intelligence  received  by  Washington,  through  his 
confidential  agents  in  New  York,  communicating  that 
many  of  his  officers,  and  especially  a  major-general  named 
to  him,  were  connected  with  Arnold,  could  not  fail  to 
seize  the  attention  of  a  commander  even  less  diligent  and 
zealous.  It  engaged  his  mind  entirely,  exciting  sensations 
the  most  anxious,  as  well  as  unpleasant.  The  moment  he 
reached  the  army,  then  under  the  orders  of  Major-General 
Greene,  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Tappan,  he  sent  for 
Major  Lee,  posted  with  the  light  troops  some  distance  in 
front.  This  officer  repaired  to  head-quarters  with  celerity, 
and  found  the  general  in  his  marquee  alone,  busily  en 
gaged  in  writing.  So  soon  as  Lee  entered,  he  was  requested 
to  take  a  seat,  and  a  bundle  of  papers,  lying  on  the  table, 
was  given  him  for  perusal.  In  these  much  information 
was  detailed,  tending  to  prove  that  Arnold  was  not  alone 
in  the  base  conspiracy  just  detected,  but  that  the  poison 
had  spread;  and  that  a  major-general,  whose  name  was  not 
concealed,  was  certainly  as  guilty  as  Arnold  himself. 
This  officer  had  enjoyed,  without  interruption,  the  confi 
dence  of  the  commander-in-chief  throughout  the  war;  nor 
did  there  exist  a  single  reason  in  support  of  the  accusation. 
It  altogether  rested  on  the  intelligence  derived  from  the 
papers  before  him.  Major  Lee,  personally  acquainted  with 
the  accused,  could  not  refrain  from  suggesting  the  proba 
bility,  that  the  whole  was  a  contrivance  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  in  order  to  destroy  that  confidence  between  the 
commander  and  his  officers,  on  which  the  success  of  mili 
tary  operations  depend.  This  suggestion,  Washington 
replied,  was  plausible,  and  deserved  due  consideration. 


382  APPENDIX. 

It  had  early  occurred  to  his  own  mind,  and  had  not  been, 
slightly  regarded;  but  his  reflections  settled  in  a  conclu 
sion  not  to  be  shaken,  as  the  same  suggestion  applied  to 
no  officer  more  forcibly  than  a  few  days  ago  it  would  have 
done  to  General  Arnold,  known  now  to  be  a  traitor. 

"Announcing  this  result  of  his  meditations  with  the 
tone  and  countenance  of  a  mind  deeply  agitated,  and  re 
solved  on  its  course,  Lee  continued  silent,  when  the  general 
proceeded:  'I  have  sent  for  vou,  in  the  expectation  that 
you  have  in  your  corps  individuals  capable  and  willing  to 
undertake  an  indispensable,  delicate,  and  hazardous  pro 
ject.  Whoever  comes  forward  on  this  occasion,  will  lay 
me  under  great  obligations  personally;  and  in  behalf  of 
the  United  States,  I  will  reward  him  amply.  No  time  is 
to  be  lost;  he  must  proceed,  if  possible,  this  night.  My 
object  is  to  probe  to  the  bottom  the  afflicting  intelligence 
contained  in  the  papers  you  have  just  read,  to  seize  Arnold, 
and  by  getting  him,  to  save  Andre.  They  are  all  con 
nected.  While  my  emissary  is  engaged  in  preparing  means 
for  the  seizure  of  Arnold,  the  guilt  of  others  can  be  traced ; 
and  the  timely  delivery  of  Arnold  to  me,  will  possibly  put 
it  into  my  power  to  restore  the  amiable  and  unfortunate 
Andre  to  his  friends.  My  instructions  are  ready,  in  which 
you  will  find  my  express  orders  that  Arnold  is  not  to  be 
hurt;  but  that  he  be  permitted  to  escape,  if  to  be  pre 
vented  only  by  killing  him,  as  his  public  punishment  is 
the  only  object  in  view.  This  you  cannot  too  forcibly 
press  on  whoever  may  engage  in  the  enterprise;  and  this 
fail  not  to  do.  With  my  instructions  are  two  letters,  to 
be  delivered  as  ordered,  and  here  are  some  guineas  for 
expenses.' 

"Major  Lee,  replying,  said,  that  he  had  little  or  no 
doubt  but  that  his  legion  contained  many  individuals 
daring  enough  for  any  operation,  however  perilous;  but 
that  the  one  in  view  required  a  combination  of  qualities 
not  easily  to  be  found,  unless  in  a  commissioned  officer,  to 
whom  he  could  not  venture  to  propose  an  enterprise,  the 
first  step  to  which  was  desertion;  that  though  the  sergeant- 
major  of  the  cavalry  was  in  all  respects  qualified  for  the 
delicate  and  adventurous  project,  and  to  him  it  might  be 
proposed  without  indelicacy,  as  his  station  did  not  inter 
pose  the  obstacle  before  stated;  yet  it  was  very  probable 


APPENDIX. 

that  the  same  difficulty  would  occur  in  his  breast,  to  re 
move  which  would  not  be  easy,  if  practicable. 

"Washington  was  highly  pleased  with  finding  that  a 
non-commissioned  officer  was  deemed  capable  of  executing 
his  views;  as  he  had  felt  extreme  difficulty  in  authorizing 
an  invitation  to  officers,  who  generally  are,  and  always 
ought  to  be,  scrupulous  and  nice  in  adhering  to  the  course 
of  honor.  HPasked  the  name,  the  country,  the  age,  the 
size,  length  of  service,  and  character  of  the  sergeant. 

"Being  told  his  name — that  he  was  a  native  of  Loudon 
county  in  Virginia;  about  twenty-four  years  of  age — that 
he  had  enlisted  in  1776 — rather  above  the  common  size, 
full  of  bone  and  muscle,  with  a  saturnine  countenance, 
grave,  thoughtful  and  taciturn — of  tried  courage  and  inflex 
ible  perseverance,  and  as  likely  to  reject  an  overture  coup 
led  with  ignominy  as  any  officer  in  the  corps;  a  commission 
being  the  goal  of  his  long  and  anxious  exertions,  and  cer 
tain  on  the  first  vacancy. 

"The  general  exclaimed  that  he  was  the  very  man  for 
the  business;  that  he  must  undertake  it;  and  that  going 
to  the  enemy  by  the  instigation  and  at  the  request  of  his 
officer  was  not  desertion,  though  it  appeared  to  be  so;  and 
he  enjoined  that  this  explanation,  as  coming  from  him, 
should  be  pressed  on  Champe;  and  that  the  vast  good  in 
prospect  should  be  contrasted  with  the  mere  semblance  of 
doing  wrong,  which  he  presumed  could  not  fail  to  conquer 
every  scruple.  Major  Lee  assured  the  general  that  every 
exertion  would  be  assayed  on  his  part  to  execute  his 
wishes;  and,  taking  leave,  returned  to  the  carnp  of  the 
light  corps,  which  he  reached  about  eight  o'clock  at  night. 
Sending  instantly  for  the  sergeant-major,  he  introduced 
the  business  in  the  way  best  calculated,  as  he  thought,  to 
produce  his  concurrence;  and  dilated  largely  on  the  very 
great  obligations  he  would  confer  on  the  commander-in- 
chief,  whose  unchanging  and  active  beneficence  to  the 
troops  had  justly  drawn  to  him  their  affection,  which 
would  be  merely  nominal,  if,  when  an  opportunity  should 
offer  to  any  individual  of  contributing  to  the  promotion 
of  his  views,  that  opportunity  was  not  zealously  embraced. 
That  the  one  now  presented  to  him  had  never  before  oc 
curred,  and  in  all  probability  would  never  occur  again, 
even  should  the  war  continue  for  ages;  it  being  most  rare 


384  APPENDIX. 

for  these  distinct  consequences,  all  of  primarj  weight, 
to  be  comprised  within  a  single  operation,  and  that  opera 
tion  necessarily  to  be  intrusted  to  one  man,  who  would 
want  but  one  or  two  associates  in  the  active  parts  of  its 
execution.  That  the  chance  of  detection  became  extremely 
narrow,  and  consequent^  that  of  success  enlarged.  That 
by  succeeding  in  the  safe  delivery  of  Arnold,  he  not  only 
gratified  his  general  in  the  most  acceptabU  manner,  but 
he  would  be  hailed  as  the  avenger  of  the  reputation  of 
the  army,  stained  by  foul  and  wicked  perfidy;  and,  what 
could  not  but  be  highly  pleasing,  he  would  be  the  instru 
ment  of  saving  the  life  of  Major  Andre,  soon  to  be  brought 
before  a  court  of  inquiry,  the  decision  of  which  could  not  be 
doubted,  from  the  universally  known  circumstances  of  the 
case,  and  had  been  anticipated  in  the  general's  instructions. 
That  by  investigating  with  diligence  and  accuracy  the 
intelligence  communicated  to  him,  he  would  bring  to  light 
new  guilt,  or  he  would  relieve  innocence,  as  was  most 
probable,  from  distrust;  quieting  the  torturing  suspicions 
which  now  harrowed  the  mind  of  Washington,  and  restor 
ing  again  to  his  confidence  a  once-honored  general,  pos 
sessing  it  at  present  only  ostensibly,  as  well  as  hush  doubts 
affecting  many  of  his  brother-soldiers. 

"In  short,  the  accomplishment  of  so  much  good  was  in 
itself  too  attractive  to  be  renounced  by  a  generous  mind; 
and  when  connected  with  the  recollection  of  the  high 
honor  which  the  selection  shed  on  'him  as  a  soldier,  no 
ought  not — he  must  not  pause.  The  discourse  was  fol 
lowed  by  a  detail  of  the  plan,  with  a  wish  that  he  would 
enter  on  its  execution  instantly.  Champe  listened  with 
deep  attention,  and  with  a  highly-excited  countenance; 
the  perturbations  of  his  breast  not  being  hid  even  by  his 
dark  visage.  lie  briefly  and  modestly  replied,  that  no 
soldier  exceeded  him  in  respect  and  affection  for  the  corn- 
rnander-in-chief,  to  serve  whom  he  would  willingly  lay 
down  his  life;  and  that  he  was  sensible  of  the  honor  con 
ferred  by  the  choice  of  him  for  the  execution  of  a  project 
all  over  arduous;  nor  could  he  be  at  a  loss  to  know  to 
whom  was  to  be  ascribed  the  preference  bestowed,  which 
he  took  pleasure  in  acknowledging,  though  increasing 
obligations  before  great  and  many.  That  he  was  charmed 
with  the  plan.  Even  its  partial  success  would  lead  to  great 


j 


APPENDIX.  335 

good;  as  it  would  give  peace  to  the  general's  mind,  and 
do  justice,  as  lie  hoped,  to  innocence.  Full  success,  added 
powerful  and  delicious  personal  incitements,  as  well  as  the 
gratification  of  the  general  and  army.  He  was  not,  he 
said,  deterred  by  the  danger  and  difficulty  which  was  evi 
dently  to  be  encountered,  but  he  was  deterred  by  the  ig 
nominy  of  desertion,  to  be  followed  by  the  hypocrisy  of 
enlisting  with  the  enemy;  neither  of  which  comported 
with  his  feelings,  and  either  placed  an  insuperable  bar  in 
his  way  to  promotion.  He  concluded  by  observing,  if  any 
mode  could  be  contrived  free  from  disgrace,  he  would 
cordially  embark  in  the  enterprise.  As  it  was,  he  prayed 
to  be  excused;  and  hoped  that  services,  always  the  best 
in  his  power  to  perform,  faithfully  executed,  did  entitle 
his  prayer  to  success. 

"The  objections  at  first  apprehended,  now  to  be  com 
bated,  were  extended  to  a  consequence  which  had  not 
suggested  itself.  Lee  candidly  admitted  that  he  had  ex 
pected  the  first  objection  made,  and  that  only;  which  had 
been  imparted  to  the  general,  who  gave  to  it  full  considera 
tion,  and  concluded  by  declaring  that  the  crime  of  desertion 
was  not  incurred;  as  no  act  done  by  the  soldier  at  the 
request  of  the  commander-in-chief  could  be  considered  as 
desertion,  and  that  an  action  so  manifestly  praiseworthy 
as  that  to  be  performed,  when  known,  would  dissipate  by 
its  own  force  the  reflections  excited  by  appearances,  which 
no  doubt  would  be  acrimonious,  leaving  the  actor  in  full 
enjoyment  of  the  future  rich  rewards  of  his  virtue.  That 
the  reflecting  mind  ought  not  to  balance  between  the 
achievement  of  so  much  good,  and  the  doing  wrong  in 
semblance  only ;  to  which  Major  Lee  subjoined,  that  when 
in  consequence  of  the  general's  call  on  him  for  a  soldier 
capable  and  willing  to  execute  a  project  so  tempting  to 
the  brave,  he  considered  himself  and  corps  highly  honored ; 
and  that  he  should  consider  himself  reduced  to  a  mortifying 
condition,  if  the  resistance  to  the  undertaking  compelled 
him  to  inform  the  general  that  he  must  recur  to  some  other 
corps  to  provide  an  agent  to  execute  this  necessary  and 
bold  enterprise.  He  entreated  the  sergeant  to  ask  himself 
what  must  be  the  sensations  of  his  comrades,  if  a  soldier 
from  some  other  corps  should  execute  the  enterprise,  when 
they  should  be  told  that  the  glory  transferred  to  the  regi- 


386  APPENDIX. 

ment  of  which  he  was  one,  might  have  been  enjoyed  by 
the  legion,  had  not  Sergeant  Champe  shrunk  from  the 
overture  made  to  him  by  his  general,  rather  than  reject 
scruples  too  narrow  and  confined  to  be  permitted  to  inter 
fere  with  grand  and  virtuous  deeds. 

"The  esprit  du  corps  could  not  be  resisted,  and,  united 
to  his  inclination,  it  subdued  his  prejudices,  and  he  declared 
his  willingness  to  conform  to  the  wishes  of  the  general ; 
relying,  as  he  confidently  did,  that  his  reputation  would 
be  protected  by  those  who  had  induced  him  to  undertake 
the  enterprise,  should  he  be  unfortunate  in  the  attempt. 

"The  instructions  were  read  to  him,  and  every  distinct 
object  presented  plainly  to  his  view,  of  which  he  took 
notes  so  disguised  as  to  be  understood  only  by  himself. 
He  was  particularly  cautioned  to  use  the  utmost  circum 
spection  in  delivering  his  letters,  and  to  take  care  to  with 
hold  from  the  two  individuals,  addressed  under  feigned 
names,  knowledge  of  each  other;  for  though  both  .had 
long  been  in  the  confidence  of  the  general,  yet  it  was  not 
known  by  one  that  the  other  was  so  engaged.  He  was 
further  urged  to  bear  in  constant  recollection  the  solemn 
injunction  so  pointedly  expressed  in  the  instructions  to 
Major  Lee,  of  forbearing  to  kill  Arnold  in  any  condition 
of  things. 

"This  part  of  the  business  being  finished,  the  major's 
and  sergeant's  deliberations  were  turned  to  the  manner 
of  the  latter's  desertion ;  for  it  was  well  known  to  both 
that  to  pass  the  numerous  patroles  of  horse  and  foot  cross 
ing  from  the  stationary  guards,  was  itself  difficult,  which 
was  now  rendered  more  so  by  parties  thrown  occasionally 
beyond  the  place  called  Liberty-pole,  as  well  as  by  swarms 
of  irregulars,  induced  sometimes  to  venture  down  to  the 
very  point  of  Paulus'  Hook  with  the  hope  of  picking  up 
booty.  Evidently  discernible  as  were  the  difficulties  in 
the  way,  no  relief  could  be  administered  by  Major  Lee, 
lest  it  might  induce  a  belief  that  he*was  privy  to  the 
desertion,  which  opinion  getting  to  the  enemy  would  in 
volve  the  life  of  Champe.  The  sergeant  was  left  to  his 
own  resources  and  to  his  own  management,  with  the  de 
clared  determination  that  in  case  his  departure  should  be 
discovered  before  morning,  Lee  would  take  care  to  delay 
pursuit  as  long  as  was  practicable. 


APPENDIX.  337 

"Giving  to  the  sergeant  three  guineas,  and  presenting 
his  best  wishes,  he  recommended  him  to  start  without  de 
lay,  and  enjoined  him  to  communicate  his  arrival  in  New 
York  as  soon  thereafter  as  might  be  practicable.  Champe, 
pulling  out  his  watch,  compared  it  with  the  major's,  remind 
ing  the  latter  of  the  importance  of  holding  back  pursuit, 
which  he  was  convinced  would  take  place  in  the  course 
of  the  night,  and  which  might  be  fatal,  as  he  knew  that  he 
should  be  obliged  to  zigzag  in  order  to  avoid  the  patroles, 
which  would  consume  time.  It  was  now  nearly  eleven. 
The  sergeant  returned  to  camp,  and  taking  his  cloak,  valise 
and  orderly-book,  he  drew  his  horse  from  the  picket,  and, 
mounting  him,  put  himself  on  fortune.  Lee,  charmed  with 
his  expeditious  consummation  of  the  first  part  of  the  enter 
prise,  retired  id  rest.  Useless  attempt !  the  past  scene  could 
not  be  obliterated;  and,  indeed,  had  that  been  practicable, 
the  interruption  which  ensued  would  have  stopped  repose. 

"  Within  half  an  hour  Captain  Games,  officer  of  the  day, 
waited  on  the  major,  and  with  considerable  emotion  told 
him  that  one  of  the  patrole  had  fallen  in  with  a  dragoon, 
who,  being  challenged,  put  spur  to  his  horse,  and  escaped, 
though  instantly  pursued.  Lee,  complaining  of  the  inter 
ruption,  and  pretending  to  be  extremely  fatigued  by  his 
ride  to  and  from  head-quarters,  answered  as  if  he  did  not 
understand  what  had  been  said,  which  compelled  the  cap 
tain  to  repeat  it.  'Who  can  the  fellow  that  was  pursued 
be?'  inquired  the  major;  adding,  'a  country  man,  probably.' 
'No,'  replied  the  captain;  'the  patrole  sufficiently  distin 
guished  him  to  know  that  he  was  a  dragoon;  probably 
one  from  the  army,  if  not  certainly  one  of  our  own.'  This 
idea  was  ridiculed  from  its  improbability,  as,  during  the 
whole  war,  but  a  single  dragoon  had  deserted  from  the 
legion.  This  did  not  convince  Carnes,  so  much  stress  was 
it  now  the  fashion  to  lay  on  the  desertion  of  Arnold,  and 
the  probable  effect  of  his  example.  The  captain  withdrew 
to  examine  the  squadron  of  horse,  whom  he  had  ordered 
to  assemble  in  pursuance  of  established  usage  on  similar 
occasions.  Very  quickly  he  returned,  stating  that  the 
scoundrel  was  known,  and  was  no  less  a  person  than  the 
sergeant-major,  who  was  gone  off  with  his  horse,  baggage, 
arms  and  orderly-book — so  presumed,  as  neither  the  one 
nor  the  other  could  be  found.  Sensibly  affected  at  the 


APPENDIX. 

supposed  paseness  of  a  soldier  extremely  respected,  the 
captain  added  that  he  had  ordered  a  party  to  make  ready 
for  pursuit,  and  begged  the  major's  written  orders. 

"Occasionally  this  discourse  was  interrupted,  and  every 
idea  suggested  which  the  excellent  character  of  the  ser 
geant  warranted,  to  induce  the  suspicion  that  he  had  not 
deserted,  but  had  taken  the  liberty  to  leave  camp  with  a 
view  to  personal  pleasure;  an  example,  said  Lee,  too  often 
set  by  the  officers  themselves,  destructive  as  it  was  of  dis 
cipline,  opposed  as  it  was  to  orders,  and  disastrous  as  it 
might  prove  to  the  corps  in  the  course  of  service. 

" Some  little  delay  was  thus  interposed;  but  it  being  now 
announced  that  the  pursuing  party  was  ready,  Major  Lee 
directed  a  change  in  the  officer,  saying  that  he  had  a  par 
ticular  service  in  view,  which  he  had  determined  to  intrust 
to  the  lieutenant  ready  for  duty,  and  which  probably  must 
be  performed  in  the  morning.  He  therefore  directed  him 
to  summon  Cornet  Middleton  for  the  present  command. 
Lee  was  induced  thus  to  act,  first  to  add  to  the  delay,  and 
next  from  his  knowledge  of  the  tenderness  of  Middleton's 
disposition,  which  he  hoped  would  lead  to  the  protection 
of  Charnpe,  should  he  be  taken.  Within  ten  minutes 
Middleton  appeared  to  receive  his  orders,  which  were 
delivered  to  him,  made  out*in  the  customary  form,  and 
signed  by  the  major.  '  Pursue  so  far  as  you  can  with  safety 
Sergeant  Champe,  who  is  suspected  of  deserting  to  the 
enemy,  and  has  taken  the  road  leading  to  Paulus'  Hook. 
Bring  him  alive,  that  he  may  suffer  in  the  presence  of  the 
army ;  but  kill  him  if  he  resists,  or  escapes  after  being  taken.' 

"Detaining  the  cornet  a  few  minutes  longer  in  advising 
him  what  course  to  pursue — urging  him  to  take  care  of 
the  horse  and  accoutrements,  if  recovered — and  enjoining 
him  to  be  on  his  guard,  lest  he  might,  by  his  eager  pur 
suit,  improvidently  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy — the 
major  dismissed  Middleton,  wishing  him  success.  A  shower 
of  rain  fell  soon  after  Champe's  departure,  which  enabled 
the  pursuing  dragoons  to  take  the  trail  of  his  horse;  know 
ing,  as  officer  and  trooper  did,  the  make  of  their  shoes, 
whose  impression  was  an  unerring  guide.* 

*  The  horses  being  all  shod  by  our  own  farriers,  the  shoes  were  mado 
in  tho  samefoim;  which,  with  a  private  mark  annexed  to  the  fore  shoes, 
and  known  to  the  troopers,  pointed  out  the  trail  of  our  dragoons  to 
each  other,  which  was  often  very  useful. 


APPENDIX.  389 

"When  Middleton  departed,  it  was  a  few  minutes  past 
twelve,  so  that  Champe  had  only  the  start  of  rather  more 
than  an  hour — by  no  means  so  long  as  was  desired.  Lee 
became  very  unhappy,  not  only  because  the  estimable  and 
gallant  Champe  might  be  injured,  but  lest  the  enterprise 
might  be  delayed;  and  he  sfpent  a  sleepless  night.  The 
pursuing  party  during  the  night  was,  on  their  part,  delayed 
by  the  necessary  halts  to  examine  occasionally  the  road,  as 
the  impression  of  the  horse's  shoes  directed  their  course; 
this  was  unfortunately  too  evident,  no  other  horse  having 
passed  along  the  road  since  the  shower.  When  the  day 
broke,  Middleton  was  no  longer  forced  to  halt,  and  he 
passed  on  with  rapidity.  Ascending  an  eminence  before  he 
reached  the  Three  Pigeons,  some  miles  on  the  north  of  the 
village  of  Bergen,  as  the  pursuing  party  reached  its  sum 
mit,  Champe  was  descried  not  more  than  half  a  mile  in 
front.  Resembling  an  Indian  in  his  vigilance,  the  sergeant 
at  the  same  moment  discovered  the  party,  to  whose  object 
he  was  no  stranger,  and,  giving  spur  to  his  horse,  he  deter 
mined  to  outstrip  his  pursuers.  Middleton  at  the  same 
instant  put  his  horses  to  the  top  of  their  speed;  and  being, 
as  the  legion  all  were,  well  acquainted  with  the  country, 
he  recollected  a  short  route  through  the  woods  to  the 
bridge  below  Bergen,  which  diverged  from  the  great  road 
just  after  you  gain  the  Three  Pigeons.  Beaching  the  point 
of  separation,  he  halted,  and  dividing  his  party,  directed 
a  sergeant  with  a  few  dragoons  to  take  the  near  cut,  and 
possess  with  all  possible  despatch  the  bridge,  while  he  with 
the  residue,  followed  Champe;  not  doubting  but' that 
Champe  must  deliver  himself  up,  as  he  would  be  inclosed 
between  himself  and  his  sergeant.  Champe  did  not  forget 
the  short  cut,  and  would  have  taken  it  himself,  but  he 
knew  it  was  the  usual  route  of  our  parties  when  returning 
in  the  day  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  enemy,  properly 
preferring  the  woods  to  the  road.  He  consequently- 
avoided  it;  and,  persuaded  that  Middleton  would  avail 
himself  of  it,  wisely  resolved  to  relinquish  his  intention 
of  getting  to  Paulus'  Hook,  and  to  seek  refuge  from  two 
British  galleys,  tying  a  few  miles  to  the  west  of  Bergen. 
"This  was  a  station  always  occupied  by  one  or  two  gal 
leys,  and  which  it  was  known  now  lay  there.  Entering 
the  village  or  Bergen,  Champe  turned  to  his  right,  and 


390  APPENDIX. 

disguising  his  change  of  course  as  much  as  he  could  by 
taking  the  beaten  streets,  turning  as  they  turned,  he  passed 
through  the  village,  and  took  the  road  towards  Elizabeth 
town  Point.  Middleton's  sergeant  gained  the  bridge,  where 
he  concealed  himself,  ready  to  pounce  on  Champe,  when 
he  came  up;  and  Middleton,  pursuing  his  course  through 
Bergen,  soon  got  also  to  the  bridge,  when,  to  his  extreme 
mortification,  he  found  that  the  sergeant  had  slipped 
through  his  fingers.  Eeturning  up  the  road,  he  inquired 
of  the  villagers  of  Bergen  whether  a  dragoon  had  been 
seen  that  morning  preceding  his  party.  He  was  answered 
in  the  affirmative,  but  could  learn  nothing  satisfactory  as 
to  the  route  he  had  taken.  While  engaged  in  inquiries 
himself,  he  spread  his  party  through  the  village  to  strike 
the  trail  of  Charnpe's  horse,  a  resort  always  recurred  to. 
Some  of  his  dragoons  hit  it,  just  as  the  sergeant,  leaving 
the  village,  got  in  the  road  to  the  point.  Pursuit  was  re 
newed  with  vigor,  and  again  Champe  was  descried.  He, 
apprehending  the  event,  had  prepared  himself  for  it,  by 
lashing  his  valise,  containing  his  clothes  and  orderly-book, 
on  his  shoulders,  and  holding  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand, 
having  thrown  away  its  scabbard.  This  he  did  to  save 
what  was  indispensable  to  him,  and  to  prevent  any  inter 
ruption  to  his  swimming  from  the  scabbard,  should  Mid 
dleton,  as  he  presumed,  when  disappointed  at  the  bridge, 
take  the  measures  adopted  by  him.  The  pursuit  was  rapid 
and  close,  as  the  stop  occasioned  by  the  sergeant's  prepar 
ations  for  swimming  had  brought  Middleton  within  two 
or  three  hundred  yards.  As  soon  as  Champe  got  abreast 
of  the  galleys,  he  dismounted,  and  running  through  the 
marsh  to  the  river,  plunged  into  it,  calling  on  the  galleys 
for  help.  This  was  readily  given ;  they  fired  on  our  horse, 
and  sent  a  boat  to  meet  Champe,  who  was  taken  in  and 
carried  on  board,  and  conveyed  to  New  York  with  a  letter 
from  the  captain  of  the  galley,  stating  the  past  scene,  all 
of  which  he  had  seen. 

"The  horse  with  his  equipments,  the  sergeant's  cloak 
and  sword  scabbard,  were  recovered;  the  sword  itself, 
being  held  by  Champe  till  he  plunged  into  the  river,  was 
lost,  as  Middleton  found  it  necessary  to  retire  without 
searching  for  it. 

"About  three  o'clock  in  the  evening  our  party  returned; 


APPENDIX.  391 

and  the  soldiers,  seeing  the  horse,  well  known  to  them,  in 
our  possession,  made  the  air  resound  with  exclamations 
that  the  scoundrel  was  killed. 

"Major  Lee,  called  by  this  heart-rending  annunciation 
from  his  tent,  saw  the  sergeant's  horse  led  by  one  of  Mid- 
dleton's  dragoons,  and  began  to  reproach  himself  with  the 
blood  of  the  highly-prized,  faithful,  and  intrepid  Charnpe. 
Stifling  his  agony,  he  advanced  to  meet  Middleton,  and 
became  somewhat  relieved  as  soon  as  he  got  near  enough 
to  discern  the  countenance  of  his  officer  and  party.  There 
was  evidence  in  their  looks  of  disappointment,  and  he  was 
quickly  relieved  by  Middleton's  information  that  the  ser 
geant  had  effected  his  escape  with  the  loss  of  his  horse, 
and  narrated  the  particulars  just  recited. 

"Lee's  joy  was  now  as  full  as,  the  moment  before,  his 
torture  had  been  excruciating.  Never  was  a  happier  con 
clusion.  The  sergeant  escaped  unhurt,  carrying  with  him 
to  the  enemy  undeniable  testimony  of  the  sincerity  of  his 
desertion — cancelling  every  apprehension  before  enter 
tained,  lest  the  enemy  might  suspect  him  of  .being  what 
he  really  was. 

"Major  Lee  imparted  to  the  commander-in-chief  the  oc 
currence,  who  was  sensibly  affected  by  the  hair-breadth 
escape  of  Champe,  and  anticipated  with  pleasure  the  good 
effect  sure  to  follow  the  enemy's  knowledge  of  its  manner. 

"On  the  fourth  day  after  Champe's  departure,  Lee  re 
ceived  a  letter  from  him,  written  the  day  before  in  a  dis 
guised  hand,  without  any  signature,  and  stating  what  had 
passed,  after  he  got  on  board  the  galley,  where  he  was 
kindly  received. 

"He  was  carried  to  the  commandant  of  New  York  as 
soon  as  he  arrived,  and  presented  the  letter  addressed  to 
this  officer  from  the  captain  of  the  galley.  Being  asked  to 
what  corps  he  belonged,  and  a  few  other  common  ques 
tions,  he  was  sent  under  care  of  an  orderly-sergeant,  to 
the  adjutant-general,  who,  finding  that  he  was  sergeant- 
major  of  the  legion  of  horse,  heretofore  remarkable  for 
their  fidelity,  he  began  to  interrogate  him.  He  was  told 
by  Champe  that  such  was  the  spirit  of  defection  which 
prevailed  among  the  American  troops,  in  consequence  of 
Arnold's  example,  that,  he  had  no  doubt,  if  the  temper 
was  properly  cherished,  Washington's  ranks  would  not 


392  APPENDIX. 

only  be  greatly  thinned,  but  that  some  of  his  best  corps 
would  leave  him.  To  this  conclusion,  the  sergeant  said, 
he  was  led  bv  his  own  observations,  and  especially  by  his 
knowledge  of  the  discontents  which  agitated  the  corps  to 
which  he  had  belonged.  His  size,  place  of  birth,  his  form, 
countenance,  color  of  his  hair,  the  corps  in  which  he  had 
served,  with  other  remarks  in  conformity  to  the  British 
usage,  was  noted  in  a  large  folio  book.  After  this  was 
finished,  he  was  sent  to  the  cornmander-in-chief,  in  charge 
of  one  of  the  staff,  with  a  letter  from  the  adjutant-general. 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  treated  him  very  kindly,  and  detained 
him  more  than  an  hour,  asking  him  many  questions,  all 
leadings-first  to  know  to  what  extent  this  spirit  of  defec 
tion  might  be  pushed  by  proper  incitements — what  were 
the  most  operating  incitements — whether  any  general  offi 
cers  were  suspected  by  Washington  as  concerned  in  Ar 
nold's  conspiracy,  or  any  other  officers  of  note — who  they 
were,  and  whether  the  troops  approved  or  censured  Wash 
ington's  suspicions — whether  his  popularity  in  the  army 
was  sinking,  or  continued  stationary.  What  was  Major 
Andre's  situation — whether  any  change  had  taken  place 
in  the  manner  of  his  confinement — what  was  the  current 
opinion  of  his  probable  fate — and  whether  it  was  thought 
Washington  would  treat  him  as  a  spy.  To  these  various 
interrogations,  some  of  which  were  perplexing,  Charnpe 
answered  warily ;  exciting,  nevertheless,  hopes  that  the 
adoption  of  proper  measures  to  encourage  desertion,  of 
which  he  could  not  pretend  to  form  an  opinion,  would  cer 
tainly  bring  off  hundreds  of  the  American  soldiers,including 
some  of  the  best  troops,  horse  as  well  as  foot.  Respecting 
the  fate  of  Andre,  he  said  he  was  ignorant,  though  there 
appeared  to  be  a  general  wish  in  the  army  that  his  life 
should  not  be  taken ;  and  that  he  believed  it  would  depend 
more  on  the  disposition  of  Congress,  than  on  the  will  of 
Washington. 

"After  this  long  conversation  ended,  Sir  Henry  pre 
sented  Champe  with  a  couple  of  guineas,  and  recommended 
him  to  wait  on  General  Arnold,  who  was  engaged  in  rais 
ing  an  American  legion  in  the  service  of  his  majesty.  He 
directed  one  of  his  aids  to  write  to  Arnold  by  Champe, 
stating  who  he  was,  and  what  he  had  said  about  the  dis 
position  in  the  army  to  follow  his  example,  which  was 


APPENDIX.  393 

very  soon  done;  it  was  given  to  the  orderly  attending  on. 
ChampCj  to  be  presented  with  the  deserter  to  General 
Arnold.  Arnold  expressed  much  satisfaction  on  hearing 
from  Champe  the  manner  of  his  escape,  and  the  effect  of 
Arnold's  example;  and  concluded  his  numerous  inquiries 
by  assigning  quarters  to  the  sergeant — the  same  as  were 
occupied  by  his  recruiting-sergeants. 

"He  also  proposed  to  Champe  to  join  his  legion,  telling 
him  he  could  give  to  him  the  same  station  he  had  held  in 
the  rebel  service,  and  promising  further  advancement  when 
merited.  Expressing  his  wish  to  retire  from  war,  and  his 
conviction  of  the  certainty  of  his  being  hung  if  ever  taken 
by  the  rebels,  he  begged  to  be  excused  from  enlistment; 
assuring  the  general  that,  should  he  change  his  mind,  he 
would  certainly  accept  his  offer.  Ketiring  to  the  assigned 
quarters,  Champe  now  turned  his  attention  to  the  delivery 
of  his  letters,  which  he  could  not  effect  till  the  next  night, 
and  then  only  to  one  of  the  two  incogniti  to  whom  he  was 
recommended.  This  man  received  the  sergeant  with  ex 
treme  attention,  and,  having  read  the  letter,  assured  Champe 
that  he  might  rely  on  his  faithful  cooperation  in  doing 
every  thing  in  his  power  consistently  with  his  safety,  to 
guard  which  required  the  utmost  prudence  and  circum 
spection.  The  sole  object  in  which  the  aid  of  this  indi 
vidual  was  required,  regarded  the  general  and  others  of 
our  army,  implicated  in  the  information  sent  to  Washing 
ton  by  him.  To  this  object  Champe  urged  his  attention, 
assuring  him  of  the  solicitude  it  had  excited,  and  telling 
him  that  its  speedy  investigation  had  induced  the  general 
to  send  him  into  New  York.  Promising  to  enter  on  it 
with  zeal,  and  engaging  to  send  out  Champe's  letters  to 
Major  Lee,  he  fixed  the  time  and  place  for  their  next 
meeting,  when  they  separated. 

"Lee  made  known  to  the  general  what  had  been  trans 
mitted  to  him  by  Champe,  and  received  in  answer  direc 
tions  to  press  Champe  to  the  expeditious  conclusion  of  his 
mission,  as  the  fate  of  Andre  would  be  soon  decided,  when 
little  or  no  delay  could  be  admitted  in  executing  whatever 
sentence  the  court  might  decree.  The  same  messenger 
who  brought  Charnpe's  letter,  returned  with  the  ordered 
communication.  Five  days  had  nearly  elapsed  after  reach 
ing  New  York,  before  Champe  saw  the  confidant  to  whom 


394  APPENDIX. 

only  the  attempt  against  Arnold  was  to  be  intrusted.  This 
person  entered  with  promptitude  into  the  design,  promis 
ing  his  cordial  assistance.  To  procure  a  proper  associate 
to  Champe  was  the  first  object,  and  this  he  promised  to  do 
with  all  possible  despatch.  Furnishing  a  conveyance  to 
Lee  he  again  heard  from  Chain  pe,  who  stated  what  I  have 
related,  with  the  additional  intelligence  that  he  had  that 
morning,  the  last  of  September,  been  appointed  one  of 
Arnold's  recruiting-sergeants,  having  enlisted  the  day  be 
fore  with  Arnold;  and  that  he  was  induced  to  take  this 
afflicting  step,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  uninterrupted 
ingress  and  egress  to  the  house  which  the  general  occu 
pied,  it  being  indispensable  to  a  speedy  conclusion  of  the 
difficult  enterprise  which  the  information  he  had  just  re 
ceived  had  so  forcibly  urged.  He  added,  that  the  diffi 
culties  in  his  way  were  numerous  and  stubborn,  and  that 
his  prospect  of  success  was  by  no  means  cheering.  With 
respect  to  the  additional  treason,  he  asserted  that  he  had 
every  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  groundless;  that  the 
report  took  its  rise  in  the  enemy's  camp,  and  that  he 
hoped  soon  to  clear  up  this  matter  satisfactorily.  The 
pleasure  which  the  first  part  of  this  communication  af 
forded  was  damped  by  the  tidings  it  imparted  respecting 
Arnold,  as  on  his  speedy  delivery  depended  Andre's  relief. 
The  interposition  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who  was  extremely 
anxious  to  save  his  much-loved  aid-de-camp,  still  contin 
ued;  and  it  was  expected  the  examination  of  witnesses 
and  the  defence  of  the  prisoner  would  protract  the  decision 
of  the  court  of  inquiry,  now  assembled,  and  give  sufficient 
time  for  the  consummation  of  the  project  committed  to 
Champe.  A  complete  disappointment  took  place  from  a 
quarter  unforeseen  and  unexpected.  The  honorable  and 
accomplished  Andre,  knowing  his  guilt,  disdained  defence, 
and  prevented  the  examination  of  witnesses,  by  confessing 
the  character  in  which  he  stood.  On  the  next  day,  the 
2d  of  October,  the  court  again  assembled,  when  every 
doubt  that  could  possibly  arise  in  the  case  having  been 
removed  by  the  previous  confession,  Andre  was  declared 
to  be  a  spy,  and  condemned  to  suffer  accordingly. 

"  The  sentence  was  executed  on  the  subsequent  day  in 
the  usual  form,  the  cornmander-in-chief  deeming  it  im- 


APPENDIX.  395 

proper  to  interpose  any  delay.  In  this  decision  he  was 
warranted  by  the  very  unpromising  intelligence  received 
from  Champe — by  the  still  existing  implication  of  other 
officers  in  Arnold^s  conspiracy — by  a  due  regard  to  public 
opinion — and  by  real  tenderness  to  the  condemned. 

"Neither  Congress  nor  the  nation  could  have  been  with 
propriety  informed  of  the  cause  of  the  delay,  and  without 
such  information  it  must  have  excited  in  both  alarm  and 
suspicion.  Andre  himself  could  not  have  been  intrusted 
with  the  secret,  and  would  consequently  have  attributed 
the  unlooked-for  event  to  the  expostulation  and  exertion 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  which  would  not  fail  to  produce  in 
his  breast  expectations  of  ultimate  relief;  to  excite  which 
would  have  been  cruel,  as  the  realization  of  such  expecta 
tion  depended  only  on  a  possible  but  improbable  contin 
gency.  The  fate  of  Andre,  hastened  by  himself,  deprived 
the  enterprise  committed  to  Champe  of  a  feature  which 
had  been  highly  prized  by  its  projector,  and  which  had 
very  much  engaged  the  heart  of  the  individual  chosen  to 
execute  it. 

"Washington  ordered  Major  Lee  to  communicate  what 
had  passed  to  the  sergeant,  with  directions  to  encourage 
him  to  prosecute  with  unrelaxed  vigor  the  remaining  ob 
jects  of  his  instructions,  but  to  intermit  haste  in  the  exe 
cution  only  so  far  as  was  compatible  with  final  success. 

"This  was  accordingly  done,  by  the  first  opportunity, 
in  the  manner  directed.  Champe  deplored  the  sad  neces 
sity  which  occurred,  and  candidly  confessed  that  the  hope 
of  enabling  Washington  to  save  the  life  of  Andre,  who 
had  been  the  subject  of  universal  commiseration  in  the 
American  camp,  greatly  contributed  to  remove  the  serious 
difficulties  which  opposed  his  acceding  to  the  proposition 
when  first  propounded.  Some  documents  accompanied 
this  communication,  tending  to  prove  the  innocence  of  the 
accused  general ;  they  were  completely  satisfactory,  and  did 
credit  to  the  discrimination,  zeal  and  diligence  of  the  ser 
geant.  Lee  inclosed  them  immediately  to  the  commander- 
in-chief,  who  was  pleased  to  express  the  satisfaction  he 
derived  from  the  information,  and  to  order  the  major  to 
wait  on  him  the  next  day;  when  the  whole  subject  was 
reexamined,  and  the  distrust  heretofore  entertained  of  the 

26 


396  APPENDIX. 

accused  was  for  ever  dismissed.*  Nothing  now  remained 
to  be  done  but  the  seizure  and  safe  delivery  of  Arnold. 
To  this  object  Champe  gave  his  undivided  attention;  and 
on  the  19th  of  October,  Major  Lee  received  from  him  a 
very  particular  account  of  the  progress  he  had  made,  with 
the  outlines  of  his  plan.  This  was  without  delay  submit 
ted  to  Washington;  with  a  request  for  a  few  additional 
guineas.  The  general's  letter,f  written  on  the  same  day, 

*  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Major  Lee,  in  his  own 
hand-writing,  dated 

"OCTOBER  23d,  1780. 

"DEAR  SIR:  I  am  very  glad  your  letter  of  this  date  has  given  strength 
to  my  conviction  of  the  innocence  of  the  gentleman  who  was  the  subject 
of  your  inquiry.  I  want  to  see  you  on  a  particular  piece  of  business. 
If  the  day  is  fair,  and  nothing  of  consequence  intervenes,  I  will  be  at 
the  marquis'  quarters  at  ten  o'clock  to-morrow.  If*this  should  not  £iap- 
pen,  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  at  head-quarters. 

"I  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"G.  WASHINGTON." 

f  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Major  Lee  in  his  own 
hand-writing. 
" HEAD-QUARTERS,  October  20th,  1780. 

"DEAR  SIR:  The  plan  proposed  for  taking  A d,  the  outlines  of 

which  are  communicated  in  your  letter,  which  was  this  moment  put  into 
my  hands  without  date,  has  every  mark  of  a  good  one.  I  therefore  agree 
to  the  promised  rewards;  and  have  such  entire  confidence  in  your  man 
agement  of  the  business,  as  to  give  it  my  fullest  approbation;  and  leave 
the  whole  to  the  guidance  of  your  own  judgment,  with  this  express  stip 
ulation  and  pointed  injunction,  that  he,  A d,  is  brought  to  me  alive. 

"No  circumstance  whatever  shall  obtain  my  consent  to  his  being  put 
to  death.  The  idea  which  would  accomp  my  such  an  event,  would  be 
that  ruffians  had  been  hired  to  assassinate  him.  My  aim  is  to  make  a 
public  example  of  him;  and  this  should  be  strongly  impressed  on  those 
who  are  employed  to  bring  him  off.  The  sergeant  must  be  very  circum 
spect; — too  much  zeal  may  create  suspicion,  and  too  much  precipitancy 
may  defeat  the  project.  The  most  inviolable  secrecy  must  be  observed 
on  all  hands.  I  send  you  live  guineas;  but  I  am  not  satisfied  of  the  pro 
priety  of  the  sergeant's  appearing  with  much  specie.  This  circumstance 
may  also  lead  to  suspicion,  as  it  is  but  too  well  known  to  the  enemy 
that  we  do  not  abound  in  this  article. 

"The  interviews  between  the  party,  in  and  out  of  the  city,  should  be 
managed  with  much  caution  and  seeming  indifference;  or  else  the  fre 
quency  of  their  meetings,  &c.,  may  betray  the  design,  and  involve  bad 
consequences;  but  I  am  persuaded  you  will  place  every  matter  in  a 
proper  point  of  view  to  the  conductors  of  this  interesting  business,  and 
therefore  I  shall  only  add,  that 

"I  am,  dear  sir,  &c.,  &c. 

"G.  WASHINGTON." 


APPENDIX.  397 

20th  October,  evinces  his  attention  to  the  minutiae  of  busi 
ness,  as  well  as  his  immutable  determination  to  possess 
Arnold  alive,  or  not  at  all.  This  was  his  original  in 
junction,  which  he  never  omitted  to  enforce  on  every 
proper  occasion. 

u  Major  Lee  had  an  opportunity,  in  the  course  of  the 
week,  of  writing  to  Champe,  when  he  told  him  that  the 
rewards  which  he  had  promised  to  his  associates  would 
be  certainly  paid  on  the  delivery  of  Arnold;  and  in  the 
mean  time,  small  sums  of  money  would  be  furnished  for 
casual  expenses,  it  being  deemed  improper  that  he  should 
appear  with  much,  lest  it  might  lead  to  suspicion  and 
detection.  That  five  guineas  were  now  sent,  and  that 
more  would  follow  when  absolutely  necessary. 

"  Ten  days  elapsed  before  Champe  brought  his  measures 
to  conclusion,  when  Lee  received  from  him  his  final  com 
munication,  appointing  the  third  subsequent  night  for  a 
party  of  dragoons  to  meet  him  at  Hoboken,  when  he  hoped 
to  deliver  Arnold  to  the  officer.  Champe  had,  from  his 
enlistment  into  the  American  legion,  (Arnold's  corps,) 
every  opportunity  he  could  wish  to  attend  to  the  habits 
of  the  general.  He  discovered  that  it  was  his  custom  to 
return  home  about  twelve  every  night,  and  that  previous 
to  going  to  bed  he  always  visited  the  garden.  During 
this  visit  the  conspirators  were  to  seize  him,  and,  being 
prepared  with  a  gag,  intended  to  have  applied  the  same 
instantly. 

"Adjoining  the  house  in  which  Arnold  resided,  and  in 
which  it  was  designed  to  seize  and  gag  him,  Champe  had 
taken  off  several  of  the  palings  and  replaced  them  so  that 
with  care  and  without  noise  he  could  readily  open  his  way 
to  the  adjoining  alley.  Into  this  alley  he  meant  to  have 
conveyed  his  prisoner,  aided  by  his  companion,  one  of  two 
associates  who  had  been  introduced  by  the  friend  to  whom 
Champe  had  been  originally  made  known  by  letter  from 
the  commander-in-chief,  and  with  whose  aid  and  counsel 
he  had  so  far  conducted  the  enterprise.  His  other  associate 
was  with  the  boat  prepared  at  one  of  the  wharves  on  the 
Hudson  river  to  receive  the  party. 

"Champe  and  his  friend  intended  to  have  placed  them 
selves  each  under  Arnold's  shoulder,  and  to  have  thus 
borne  him  through  the  most  unfrequented  alleys  and 


398  APPENDIX. 

streets  to  the  boat;  representing  Arnold,  .in  case  of  being 
questioned,  as  a  drunken  soldier  whom  they  were  convey 
ing  to  the  guard-house. 

"When  arrived  at  the  boat,  the  difficulties  would  be  all 
surmounted,  there  being  no  danger  nor  obstacle  in  passing 
to  the  Jersey  shore.  These  particulars,  so  soon  as  known 
to  Lee,  were  communicated  to  the  commander-in-chief, 
who  was  highly  gratified  with  the  much-desired  intelli 
gence.  He  directed  Major  Lee  to  meet  Champe,  and  to 
take  care  that  Arnold  should  not  be  hurt.  The  day  ar 
rived,  and  Lee  with  a  party  of  dragoons  left  camp  late  in 
the  evening,  with  three  led  accoutred  horses;  one  for 
Arnold,  one  for  the  sergeant,  and  the  third  for  his  asso 
ciate,  never  doubting  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  from 
the  tenor  of  the  last-received  communication.  The  party 
reached  Hoboken  about  midnight,  where  they  were  con 
cealed  in  the  adjoining  wood — Lee  with  three  dragoons 
stationing  himself  near  the  river-shore.  Hour  after  hour 
passed — no  boat  approached.  At  length  the  day  broke, 
and  the  major  retired  to  his  party,  and  with  his  led  horses 
returned  to  camp,  when  he  proceeded  to  head-quarters  to 
inform  the  general  of  the  much-lamented  disappointment, 
as  mortifying  as  inexplicable.  Washington  having  pe 
rused  Champe's  plan  and  communication,  had  indulged 
the  presumption  that  at  length  the  object  of  his  keen  and 
constant  pursuit  was  sure  of  execution,  and  did  not  dis 
semble  the  joy  such  conviction  produced.  He  was  cha 
grined  at  the  issue,  and  apprehended  that  his  faithful 
sergeant  must  have  been  detected  in  the  last  scene  of  his 
tedious  and  difficult  enterprise. 

"In  a  few  days  Lee  received  an  anonymous  letter  from 
Champe's  patron  and  friend,  informing  him  that  on  the 
day  preceding  the  night  fixed  for  the  execution  of  the  plot, 
Arnold  had  removed  his  quarters  to  another  part  of  the 
town,  to  superintend  the  embarkation  of  troops,  preparing, 
as  was  rumored,  for  an  expedition  to  be  directed  by  him 
self;  and  that  the  American  legion,  consisting  chiefly  of 
American  deserters,  had  been  transferred  from  their  bar 
racks  to  one  of  the  transports;  it  being  apprehended  that 
if  left  on  shore  till  the  expedition  was  ready,  many  of 
them  might  desert.  Thus  it  happened  that  John  Champe, 
instead  of  crossing  the  Hudson  that  night,  was  safely  de- 


>\          ^\j-2    •  -.  \  -1  :, '-  i 


\ 


JOHN   ADAMS. 


APPENDIX.  399 

posited  on  board  one  of  the  fleet  of  transports,  whence  he 
never  departed  till  the  troops  under  Arnold  landed  in 
Virginia!  nor  was  he  able  to  escape  from  the  British  army 
till  after  the  junction  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Petersburg, 
when  he  deserted,  and  proceeding  high  up  into  Virginia, 
he  passed  into  North  Carolina,  near  the  Sama  towns,  and, 
keeping  in  the  friendly  districts  of  that  state,  safely  joined 
the  army  soon  after  it  had  passed  the  Congaree  in  pursuit 
of  Lord  Kawdon. 

"His  appearance  excited  extreme  surprise  among  his 
former  comrades,  which  was  not  a  little  increased  when 
they  saw  the  cordial  reception  he  met  with  from  the  late 
major,  now  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee.  His  whole  story  soon 
became  known  to  the  corps,  which  reproduced  the  love 
and  respect  of  officer  and  soldier,  heretofore  invariably 
entertained  for  the  sergeant,  heightened  by  universal  ad 
miration  of  his  late  daring  and  arduous  attempt. 

"Champe  was  introduced  to  General  Greene,  who  very 
cheerfully  complied  with  the  promises  made  by  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,  so  far  as  in  his  power;  and  having  pro 
vided  the  sergeant  with  a  good  horse  and  money  for  his 
journey,  sent  him  to  General  Washington,  who  munifi 
cently  anticipated  every  desire  of  the  sergeant,  and  pre 
sented  him  with  his  discharge  from  further  service,*  lest 
he  might  in  the  vicissitudes  of  war  fall  into  the  enemy's 
hands;  when,  if  recognized,  he  was  sure  to  die  on  the 
gibbet." 

*  When  General  Washington  was  called  by  President  Adams  to  the 
command  of  the  army,  prepared  to  defend  the  country  from  French 
hostility,  he  sent  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee,  to  inquire  for  Champe; 
being  determined  to  bring  him  into  the  field  at  the  head  of  a  company 
of  infantry.  Lee  sent  to  Loudon  county,  where  Champe  settled  after 
his  discharge  from  the  army ;  when  he  learned  that  the  gallant  sold'** 
had  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  socn  after  died. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


MAJOR-GENERAL    ISRAEL    PUTNAM, 

THE  life  of  this  patriot  and  hero  has  been  portrayed  by 
the  able  and  impartial  hand  of  the  late  General  David 
Humphreys,  and  a  brief  sketch,  chiefly  from  that  work, 
must  suffice  for  the  present  purpose.  General  Putnam 
was  born  at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  on  the  7th  day  of  Jan 
uary,  1718.  He  was  indebted  to  nature,  more  than  edu 
cation,  for  a  vigorous  constitution,  for  mental  endowments, 
and  for  that  undaunted  courage  and  active  enterprise  which 
were  his  prominent  characteristics.  Much  confidence  was 
reposed  in  his  military  prowess  and  judgment,  and  he  was 
remarkable  for  a  faithful  perseverance  in  all  the  duties  of 
his  station,  and  for  the  most  undeviating  principles  of 
honor,  humanity  and  benevolence.  In  the  year  1739,  he 
removed  to  Pomfret,  in  Connecticut,  where  he  applied 
himself  to  the  art  of  agriculture.  His  biographer,  as  a 
display  of  character  in  early  life,  has  recorded  an  instance 
of  his  bold  attack  of  a  wolf  while  in  her  den;  but  as  the 
story  has  been  frequently  promulgated,  it  need  ,not  be  re 
peated  in  this  place.  When,  in  the  year  1755,  the  war 
between  England  and  France  broke  out  in  America,  Put 
nam  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  a  company  of 
rangers,  and  was  distinguished  for  his  active  services  as  a 
partizan  officer.  In  1757,  he  was  promoted  to  a  majority, 
and  being  in  a  warm  and  close  engagement  with  a  party 
of  French  and  savages,  he  had  discharged  his  fuzee  several 
times,  when  at  length  it  missed  fire  while  the  muzzle  was 
pressed  against  the  breast  of  a  large  and  well-proportioned 
Indian.  This  adversary,  with  a  tremendous  war-whoop, 
sprang  forward  with  his  lifted  hatchet,  and  compelled  him 
to  surrender;  and  having  bound  him  fast  to  a  tree  returned 


APPENDIX.  401 

to  the  battle.  For  a  considerable  time  the  tree  to  which 
Major  Putnam  was  tied  was  directly  between  the  fires  of 
the  two  parties,  than  which  no  conceivable  situation  could 
be  more  deplorable.  The  balls  flew  incessantly  from  each 
side,  many  struck  the  tree,  while  some  passed  through  the 
sleeves  and  skirts  of  his  coat.  In  this  state  of  jeopardy, 
unable  to  move  his  body,  to  stir  his  limbs,  or  even  to  in 
cline  his  head,  he  remained  more  than  an  hour — so  equally 
balanced  and  so  obstinate  was  the  fight!  At  one  moment, 
while  the  battle  swerved  in  favor  of  the  enemy,  a  young 
savage  chose  an  odd  way  of  discovering  his  humor.  He 
found  Putnam  bound.  He  might  have  despatched  him  at 
a  blow.  But  he  loved  better  to  excite  the  terrors  of  the 
prisoner  by  hurling  a  tomahawk  at  his  head,  or  rather  it 
should  seem  his  object  was  to  see  how  near  he  could  throw 
it  without  touching  him.' — The  weapon  struck  in  the  tree 
a  number  of  times  at  a  hair's-breadth  from  the  mark. 
When  the  Indian  had  finished  his  amusement,  a  French 
bas-officer,  a  much  more  inveterate  savage  by  nature, 
though  descended  from  so  humane  and  polished  a  nation, 
perceiving  Putnam,  came  to  him,  and,  levelling  a  fuzee 
within  a  foot  of  his  breast,  attempted  to  discharge  it — it 
missed  fire.  Ineffectually  did  the  intended  victim  solicit 
the  treatment  due  to  his  situation,  by  repeating  that  he 
was  a  prisoner  of  war.  The  degenerate  Frenchman  did 
not  understand  the  language  of  honor  or  of  nature;  deaf 
to  their  voice,  and  dead  to  sensibility,  he  violently  and 
repeatedly  pushed  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  against  Putnam's 
rib's,  and  finally  gave  him  a  cruel  blow  on  the  jaw  with 
the  butt-end  of  his  piece.  After  this  dastardly  deed  he 
left  him. 

At  length  the  enemy  was  driven  from  the  field  of  battle, 
and,  as  they  were  retiring,  Putnam  was  untied  by  the 
Indian  who  had  made  him  prisoner,  and  whom  he  after 
wards  called  master.  Having  been  conducted  to  some 
distance  from  the  place  of  action,  he  was  stripped  of  his 
coat,  vest,  stockings  and  shoes;  loaded  with  as  many  of 
the  packs  of  the  wounded  as  could  be  piled  on  him, 
strongly  pinioned,  and  his  wrists  tied  as  closely  together 
as  they  could  be  pulled  with  a  cord.  After  he  had 
marched  through  no  pleasant  paths,  in  this  painful  man 
ner,  for  many  a  tedious  mile,  the  party,  who  were  exces- 


402  APPENDIX. 

sively  fatigued,  halted  to  breathe.  His  hands  were  now 
immoderately  swelled  from  the  tightness  of  the  ligature, 
and  the  pain  had  become  intolerable.  His  feet  were  so 
much  scratched,  that  the  blood  dropped  fast  from  them. 
Exhausted  with  bearing  a  burden  above  his  strength,  and 
frantic  with  torments  exquisite  beyond  endurance,  he  in- 
treated  the  Irish  interpreter  to  implore,  as  the  last  and 
only  grace  he  desired  of  the  savages,  that  they  would 
knock  him  on  the  head,  and  take  his  scalp  at  once,  or 
loose  his  hands.  A  French  officer,  instantly  interposing, 
ordered  his  hands  to  be  unbound,  and  some  of  the  packs 
to  be  taken  off.  By  this  time  the  Indian  who  captured 
him  and  had  been  absent  with  the  wounded,  coming  up, 
gave  him  a  pair  of  moccasins,  and  expressed  great  indigna 
tion  at  the  unworthy  treatment  his  prisoner  had  suffered. 
That  savage  chief  again  returned  to  the  care  of  the 
wounded,  and  the  Indians,  about  two  hundred  in  number, 
went  before  the  rest  of  the  party  to  the  place  where  the 
whole  were  that  night  to  encamp.  They  took  with  them 
Major  Putnam,  on  whom,  besides  innumerable  other  out 
rages,  they  had  the  barbarity  to  inflict  a  deep  wound  with 
the  tomahawk  in  the  left  cheek.  His  sufferings  were  in 
this  place  to  be  consummated.  A  scene  of  horror,  infi 
nitely  greater  than  had  ever  met  his  eyes  before,  was  now 
preparing.  It  was  determined  to  roast  him  alive.  For 
this  purpose  they  led  him  into  a  dark  forest,  stripped  him 
naked,  bound  him  to  a  tree,  and  piled  dry  brush,  with 
other  fuel,  at  a  small  distance,  in  a  circle  round  him. 
They  accompanied  their  labors,  as  if  for  his  funeral  dirge, 
with  screams  and  sounds,  inimitable  but  by  savage  voices. 
Then  they  set  the  piles  on  fire.  A  sudden  shower  damped 
the  rising  flame.  Still  they  strove  to  kindle  it;  at  last  the 
blaze  ran  fiercely  round  the  circle.  Major  Putnam  soon 
began  to  feel  the  scorching  heat.  His  hands  were  so  tied 
that  he  could  move  his  body.  He  often  shifted  sides  as 
the  fire  approached.  This  sight,  at  the  very  idea  of  which, 
all  but  savages  must  shudder,  afforded  the  highest  diversion 
to  his  inhuman  tormentors,  who  demonstrated  the  delirium 
of  their  joy  by  corresponding  yells,  dances  and  gesticula 
tions.  He  saw  clearly  .that  his  final  hour  was  inevitably 
come.  He  summoned  all  his  resolution,  and  composed 
his  mind,  so  far  as  the  circumstances  could  admit,  to  bid 


APPENDIX.  403 

an  eternal  farewell  to  all  he  held  most  dear.  To  quit  the 
worfd  would  scarcely  have  cost  a  single  pang;  but  for  the 
idea  of  home,  but  for  the  remembrance  of  domestic  endear 
ments,  of  the  affectionate  partner  of  his  soul,  and  of  their 
beloved  offspring.  His  thought  was  ultimately  fixed  on 
a  happier  state  of  existence,  beyond  the  tortures  he  was 
beginning  to  endure.  The  bitterness  of  death,  even  of 
that  death  which  is  accompanied  with  the  keenest  agonies, 
was,  in  a  manner,  past — nature,  with  a  feeble  struggle,  was 
quitting  its  last  hold  on  sublunary  things — when  a  French 
officer  rushed  through  the  crowd,  opened  a  way  by  scat 
tering  the  burning  brands,  and  unbound  the  victim.  It 
was  Molang  himself — to  whom  a  savage,  unwilling  to  see 
another  human  victim  immolated,  had  run  and  communi 
cated  the  tidings.  That  commandant  spurned  and  severely 
reprimanded  the  barbarians,  whose  nocturnal  powwas  and 
hellish  orgies  he  suddenly  ended.  Putnam  did  not  want 
for  feeling  or  gratitude.^  The  French  commander,  fearing 
to  trust  him  alone  with  them,  remained  till  he  could  safely 
deliver  him  into  the  hands  of  his  master. 

The  savage  approached  his  prisoner  kindly,  and  seemed 
to  treat  him  with  particular  affection.  He  offered  him 
some  hard  biscuit;  but  finding  that  he  could  not  chew 
them,  on  account  of  the  blow  he  had  received  from  the 
Frenchman,  tWs  more  humane  savage  soaked  some  of  the 
biscuit  in  water,  and  made  him  suck  the  pulp-like  part. 
Determined,  however,  not  to  lose  his  captive,  the  refresh 
ment  being  finished,  he  took  the  moccasins  from  his  feet, 
and  tied  them  to  one  of  his  wrists;  then  directing  him  to 
lie  down  on  his  back  on  the  bare  ground,  he  stretched  one 
arm  to  its  full  length,  and  bound  it  fast  to  a  young  tree; 
the  other  arm  was  extended  and  bound  in  the  same  man 
ner — his  legs  were  stretched  apart,  and  fastened  to  two 
saplings.  Then  a  number  of  tall,  but  slender  poles  were 
cut  down,  which,  with  some  long  bushes,  were  laid  across 
his  body  from  head  to  foot:  on  each  side  lay  as  many  In 
dians  as  could  conveniently  find  lodging,  in  order  to  pre 
vent  the  possibility  of  his  escape.  In  this  disagreeable 
and  painful  posture  he  remained  till  morning.  During 
the  night,  (the  longest  and  most  dreary  conceivable,)  our 
hero  used  to  relate  that  he  felt  a  ray  of  cheerfulness  come 
casually  across  his  mind,  and  could  not  even  refrain  from 


404  AiTEXDIX. 

smiling  when  he  reflected  on  this  ludicrous  group  for  a 
painter,  of  which  he  himself  was  the  principal  figure. 

The  next  day  he  was  allowed  his  blanket  and  moccasins, 
and  permitted  to  march  without  carrying  any  pack  or  re 
ceiving  any  insult.  To  allay  his  extreme  hunger,  a  little 
bear's-rneat  was  given,  which  he  sucked  through  his  teeth. 
At  night  the  party  arrived  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the  pris 
oner  was  placed  under  the  care  of  a  French  guard.  The 
savages,  who  had  been  prevented  from  glutting  their  dia 
bolical  thirst  for  blood,  took  this  opportunity  of  manifesting 
their  malevolence  for  the  disappointment  by  horrid  grim 
aces  and  angry  gestures;  but  they  were  suffered  no  more 
to  offer  violence  or  personal  indignity  to  him. 

After  having  been  examined  by  the  Marquis  de  Mont- 
calm,  Major  Putnam  was  conducted  to  Montreal  by  a 
French  officer,  who  treated  him  with  the  greatest  indulg 
ence  and  humanity. 

At  this  place  were  several  prisoners.  Colonel  Peter 
Schuyler,  remarkable  for  his  philanthropy,  generosity  and 
friendship,  was  of  the  number.  No  sooner  had  he  heard 
of  Major  Putnam's  arrival,  than  he  went  to  the  interpret 
er's  quarters,  and  inquired  whether  he  had  a  Provincial 
major  in  his  custody?  He  found  Major  Putnam  in  a  com 
fortless  condition — without  coat,  waistcoat,  or  hose — the 
remnant  of  his  clothing  miserably  dirty  and  ragged — his 
beard  long  and  squalid — his  legs  torn  by  thorns  and  briers 
• — his  face  gashed  with  wounds  and  swollen  with  bruises. 
Colonel  Schuyler,  irritated  beyond  all  sufferance  at  such  a 
sight,  could  scarcely  restrain  his  speech  within  limits  con 
sistent  with  the  prudence  of  a  prisoner  and  the  meekness 
of  a  Christian.  Major  Putnam  was  immediately  treated 
according  to  his  rank,  clothed  in  a  decent  manner,  and 
supplied  with  money  by  this  liberal  and  sympathetic 
patron  of  the  distressed,  and  by  his  assistance  he  was  soon, 
after  exchanged. 

In  the  year  1760,  Major  Putnam  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  served  under  General  Am- 
herst  in  the  conquest  of  Canada.  He  embraced  numerous 
opportunities  of  achieving  feats  of  valor,  and  was  partic 
ularly  honored  by  his  general  for  the  promptitude  and 
ability  with  which  he  acquitted  himself  of  his  arduous 
duty.  "Colonel  Putnam,  at  the  expiration  of  ten  years 


APPENDIX.  405 

from  his  first  receiving  a  commission,  after  having  seen  as 
much  service,  endured  as  many  hardships,  encountered  as 
many  dangers,  and  acquired  as  many  laurels,  as  any  officer 
of  his  rank,  with  great  satisfaction  laid  aside  his  uniform 
and  returned  to  his  plough."  No  character  stood  fairer 
in  the  public  eye  for  integrity,  bravery  and  patriotism. 
It  was  proverbially  said,  as  well  by  British  as  Provincial 
officers,  that,  in  a  service  of  great  peril  and  hardship,  from 
1755  to  1763,  "he  dared  to  lead  where  any  dared  to  follow" 
At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  colonies 
and  the  mother-country,  Colonel  Putnam,  on  hearing  of  the 
battle  at  Lexington,  left  his  plough  in  the  middle  of  the 
field,  and,  without  changing  his  clothes,  repaired  to  Cam 
bridge,  riding  in  a  single  day  one  hundred  miles.  He  was 
soon  appointed  a  major-general  in  the  provincial  army,  and, 
returning  to  Connecticut,  he  made  no  delay  in  bringing 
on  a  body  of  troops.  Not  long  after  his  appointment,  the 
commander  of  the  British  army,  unwilling  that  so  valua 
ble  an  officer  should  act  in  opposition,  privately  conveyed 
to  him  a  proposal  that  if  he  would  quit  the  rebel  party  >  he 
might  rely  on  being  made  a  major-general  in  the  British 
establishment,  and  receiving  a  great  pecuniary  compensa 
tion  for  his  services;  but  he  spurned  the  offer.  "On  the 
16th  of  June,  1775,  it  was  determined  in  a  council  of  war, 
at  which  General  Putnam  assisted,  that  a  fortified  post 
should  be  established  at  or  near  Bunker-hill.  General 
Putnam  marched  with  the  first  detachment  and  commenced 
the  work;  he  was  the  principal  agent  or  engineer  who 
traced  the  lines  of  the  redoubt,  and  he  continued  most,  if 
not  all  the  night  with  the  workmen :  at  any  rate,  he  was 
on  the  spot  before  sun-rising  in  the  morning,  and  had  taken 
his  station  on  the  top  of  Bunker-hill,  and  participated  in 
the  danger  as  well  as  the  glory  of  that  day."* 

A  Letter  from  the  Hon.  Judge  Grosvenor,  of  Pomfret,  Connecticut. 
"Being  under  the  command  of  General  Putnam,  part  of  our  regiment, 
and  a  much  larger  number  of  Massachusetts  troops,  under  Colonel  Pres- 

*  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1818  an  account  of  the  battle  of  Bunker- 
hill  was  publishdd  in  the  Port  Folio  by  Henry  Dearborn,  Esq.,  major- 
general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  in  which  he  animadverts  on 
the  conduct  of  General  Putnam  with  great  seventy.  To  this  production 
Daniel  Putnam,  Esq.,  son  of  the  late  general,  has  published  a  rejoinder 
from  which  I  have  taken  the  testimonials  which  follow. 


406  APPENDIX. 

cott,  were  ordered  to  march  on  the  evening  of  the  16th  of  June,  1775, 
to  Breed's-hill,  where,  under  the  immediate  superintendence  of  General 
Putnam,  ground  was  broken  and  a  redoubt  formed.  On  the  following 
day,  the  17th,  dispositions  were  made  to  deter  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
as  there  was  reason  to  believe  an  immediate  attack  was  intended.  Gen 
eral  Putnam  during  the  period  was  extremely  active,  and  directed  prin 
cipally  the  operations.  All  were  animated,  and  their  general  inspired 
confidence  by  his  example.  The  British  army,  having  made  dispositions 
for  landing  at  Morton's  Point,  were  covered  by  the  fire  of  shot  and  shells 
from  Copp's-hill  in  Boston,  which  it  had  opened  on  our  redoubt  early  in 
the  morning,  and  continued  the  greater  part  of  the  day.  At  this  moment 
a  detachment  of  four  lieutenants,  of  which  1  was  one,  and  one  hundred 
and  twelve  men,  selected  the  preceding  day  from  General  Putnam's 
regiment,  under  Captain  Know! ton,  were  by  the  general  ordered  to  take 
post  at  a  rail-fence  on  the  left  of  the  breastwork  that  ran  north  from 
the  redoubt  to  the  bottom  of  Breed's-hill.  This  order  was  promptly 
executed,  and  our  detachment,  in  advancing  to  the  post,  took  one  rail- 
fence  and  placed  it  against  another,  as  a  partial  cover,  nearly  parallel 
with  the  line  of  the  breastwork,  and  extended  our  left  nearly  to  Mystic 
river.  Each  man  was  furnished  with  one  pound  of  gun-powder  &nd  forty- 
eight  balls.  This  ammunition  was  received,  however,  prior  to  marching 
to  Breed's-hill.  In  this  position  our  detachment  remained  till  a  second 
division  of  British  troops  landed,  when  they  commenced  a  fire  of  their 
field  artillery  of  several  rounds,  and  particularly  against  the  rail-fence; 
then  formed  in  columns,  advanced  to  the  attack,  displayed  in  line  at  about 
the  Distance  of  musket-shot,  and  commenced  firing.  At  this  instant  our 
whole  line  opened  on  the  enemy,  and  so  precise  and  fatal  was  our  fire, 
that  in  the  course  of  a  short  time  they  gave  way,  and  retired  in  disorder 
out  of  musket-shot,  leaving  before  us  many  killed  and  wounded.  There 
was  but  a  short  respite  on  the  part  of  the  British,  as  their  lines  were 
soon  filled  up  and  led  against  us,  when  they  were  met  as  before,  and 
forced  back  with  great  loss.  On  reinforcements  joining  the  enemy,  they 
made  a  direct  advance  on  the  redoubt,  and  being  successful,  which  our 
brave  Captain  Knowlton  perceiving,  ordered  a  retreat  of  his  men,  in 
which  he  was  sustained  by  two  companies  under  the  command  of  Captains 
Clark  and  Chester.  The  loss  in  our  detachment  I  presume  was  nearly 
equal.  Of  rny  own  immediate  command  of  thirty  men  and  one  subal 
tern,  there  were  eleven  killed  and  wounded;  among  the  latter  was  myself, 
though  not  so  severely  as  to  prevent  my  retiring.  At  the  rail-fence  there 
was  not  posted  any  corps  save  our  own,  wider  Knowlton,  at  the  time  the 
firing  commenced;  nor  did  I  hear  of  any  other  being  there,  till  long  after 
'the  action.  Other  troops,  it  is  said,  were  ordered  to  join  us,  but  refused 
doing  sc-).  Of  the  officers  on  the  ground,  the  most  active  within  my 
observation  were  General  Putnam,  Colonel  Prcsscott,  and  Captain  Knowl 
ton;  but  no  doubt  there  were  many  more,  equally  brave  and  meritorious, 
who  must  naturally  have  escaped  the  eye  of  one  attending  to  his  own 
immediate  command. 

"Thus  you  have  a  brief  statement  of  my  knowledge  of  the  action, 
without  descending  to  particulars.  To  conclude,  it  is  matter  of  surprise, 
even  of  astonishment  to  me,  my  dear  sir.  that  I  am  called  on  to  state 
my  opinion  of  the  character  of  your  honored  father,  General  Putnam, 


APPENDIX.  407 

who  was  ever  the  first  in  public  life  at  the  post  of  honor  and  danger, 
and  who,  in  his  private  conduct,  was  excelled  by  none.  Look  but  at  his 
services  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars  from  1755  to  1763,  and  finally 
at  those  of  the  revolution,  and  you  will  need  no  proof  to  refute  the 
calumny  of  common  defamers. 

"With  respect,  I  am,  yours,  truly,       "THOMAS  GROSVENOR. 
"Colonel  Daniel  Putnam." 

The  following  is  a  letter  from  Colonel  John  Trumbull, 
of  New  York,  an  officer  of  distinction  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  and  now  a  celebrated  historical  painter,  employed  in 
his  profession  by  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
dated,  New  York,  30th  of  March,  1818: 

"In  the  summer  of  1786, 1  became  acquainted  in  London  with  Colo 
nel  John  Small,  of  the  British  army,  who  had  served  in  America  many 
years,  and  had  known  General  Putnam  intimately  during  the  war  of  Can 
ada,  from  1756  to  1763.  From  him  I  had  the  two  following  anecdotes 
respecting  the  battle  of  Bunker-hill.  I  shall  nearly  repeat  his  words: 
Looking  at  the  picture  which  I  had  then  almost  completed,  he  said:  'I 
don't  like  the  situation  in  which  you  have  placed  my  old  friend  Putnam ; 
you  have  not  done  him  justice.  I  wish  you  would  alter  that  part  of 
your  picture,  and  introduce  a  circumstance  which  actually  happened,  and 
which  I  can  never  forget.  When  the  British  troops  advanced  the  second 
time  to  the  attack  of  the  redoubt,  I  with  other  officers  was  in  front  of 
the  line  to  encourage  the  men ;  we  had  advanced  very  near  the  works 
undisturbed,  when  an  irregular  fire  like  a  feu  dejoie  was  poured  in  on 
us;  it  was  cruelly  fatal.  The  troops  fell  back,  and  when  I  looked  to  the 
right  and  left,  I  saw  not  one  officer  standing.  I  glanced  my  eye  to  the 
*enemy,  and  saw  several  young  men  levelling  their  pieces  at  me;  I  knew 
their  excellence  as  marksmen,  and  considered  myself  gone.  At  this 
moment  my  old  friend  Putnam  rushed  forward,  and  striking  up  the 
muzzles  of  their  pieces  with  his  sword,  cried  out, 'For  God's  sake,  my 
lads,  don't  fire  at  that  man! — I  love  him  as  I  do  my  brother.'  We  were 
so  near  each  other  that  I  heard  his  words  distinctly.  He  was  obeyed;  I 
bowed,  thanked  him,  and  walked  away  unmolested.' 

"The  other  anecdote  relates  to  the  death  of  General  Warren.  At 
the  moment  when  the  troops  succeeded  in  carrying  the  redoubt  and  the 
Americans  were  in  full  retreat,  General  Howe,  who  had  been  hurt  by  a 
spent  ball,  which  bruised  his  ankle,  was  leaning  on  my  arm.  He  called 
suddenly  to  me:  'Do  you  see  that  elegant  young  man  who  has  just 
fallen?— do  you  know  him?'  I  looked  to  the  spot  to  which  he  pointed: 
'Good  God,  sir,  I  believe  it  is  my  friend  Warren.'  'Leave  me  then  in 
stantly — run — keep  off  the  troops — save  him  if  possible.' — I  flew  to  the 
spot.  'My  dear  friend,'  I  said  to  him,  'I  hope  you  are  not  badly  hurt.' 
He  looked  up,  seemed  to  recollect  me,  smiled,  and  died!  A  muskekball 
had  passed  through  the  upper  part  of  his  head.  Colonel  Small  had  the 
character  of  an  honorable,  upright  man,  and  could  have  no  conceivable 
motive  for  deviating  from  truth  in  relating  these  circumstances  to  me; 
I  therefore  believe  them  to  be  true.  You  remember,  my  dear  sir,  the 
viper  biting  the -file.  The  character  of  your  father  for  courage,  humanity, 


408  APPENDIX. 

generosity  and  integrity  is  too  firmly  established,  by  the  testimony  of 
those  who  did  know  him,  to  be  tarnished  by  the  breath  of  one  who  con 
fesses  that  he  did  not.  Accept,  my  dear  sir,  this  feeble  tribute  to  your 
father's  memory,  from  one  who  knew  him,  respected  him,  loved  him — and 
who  wishes  health  and  prosperity  to  YOU,  and  all  the  good  man's  pos 
terity.  "JOHN  TRUMBULL. 
"Daniel  Putnam,  Esquire." 

"I  shall  make  no  comment,"  says  Colonel  Putnam,  "on 
the  first  anecdote  by  Colonel  Small,  except  that  the  cir 
cumstances  were  related  by  General  Putnam,  without  any 
essential  alteration,  soon  after  the  battle;  and  that  there 
was  an  interview  of  the  parties  on  the  lines  between  Pros 
pect  and  Bunker-hill,  at  the  request  of  Colonel  Small,  not 
long  afterwards." 

It  is  very  apparent  that  General  Washington  reposed 
great  confidence  in  the  skill  and  judgment  of  General 
Putnam,  or  he  would  not  have  intrusted  him  with  the 
command  of  the  city  of  New  York  at  the  moment  when 
it  was  expected  that  the  whole  of  the  British  land  and 
naval  forces  would  attempt  to  take  possession  of  that  city. 
On  the  29th  of  March,  1776,  the  commander-in-chief  gave 
to  General  Putnam  the  following  orders  and  instructions: 
"You  will,  no  doubt,  make  the  best  despatch  in  getting 
to  New  York;  on  your  arrival  there,  you  will  assume  the 
command,  and  immediately  proceed  in  continuing  to  exe 
cute  the  plan  proposed  by  Major-General  Lee,  for  fortify 
ing  that  city,  and  securing  the  passes  of  the  East  and  North 
rivers.  If,  on  consultation  with  the  brigadier-generals  and 
engineers,  any  alteration  in  that  plan  is  thought  necessary, 
you  are  at  liberty  to  make  it,  cautiously  avoiding  to  break 
in  too  much  on  his  main  design,  unless  where  it  mav  be 
apparently  necessary  so  to  do,  and  that  by  the  general 
voice  and  opinion  of  the  gentlemen  above  mentioned. 
You  will  meet  the  quarter-rn  aster-general,  Colonel  Mifflin, 
and  commissary-general,  Colonel  Trumbull,  at  New  York. 
As  these  are  both  men  of  excellent  talents  in  their  differ 
ent  departments,  you  will  do  well  to  give  them  all  the 
authority  and  assistance  they  require;  and  should  a  council 
of  war  be  necessary,  it  is  my  direction  that  they  assist  at 
it.  Your  long  service' and  experience  will,  better  than  my 
particular  directions  at  this  distance,  point  out  to  }TOU  the 
works  most  proper  to  be  first  raised,  and  your  perseverance, 


APPENDIX.  409 

activity  artd  zeal  will  lead  you,  without  my  recommending  it, 
to  exert  every  nerve  to  disappoint  the  enemy's  designs." 

"The  faithful  execution  of  the  duties  here  enjoined  were 
acknowledged  by  the  commander-in-chief  after  his  arrival 
in  New  York,  and  his  thanks  were  publicly  expressed  in 
genera]  orders.  Two  days  before  the  battle  of  Flatbush, 
in  consequence  of  the  sickness  of  that  excellent  officer, 
Major-General  Greene,  who  had  commanded  on  Long  Isl 
and,  General  Putnam  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  that 
post,  and  assisted  in  the  arduous  and  complicated  difficul 
ties  of  that  masterly  retreat.  In  the  memorable  arid  dis- 
troesing  flight  of  the  American  army  through  New  Jersej^, 
in  1776,  General  Putnam  was  always  near — always  the 
friendf  the  supporter,  and  confidant  of  his  beloved  chief; 
and  the  moment  after  reaching  the  western  bank  of  the 
Delaware  with  the  rear  of  the  army,  he  was  ordered  to 
Philadelphia,  to  fortify  and  defend  that  city  against  a 
meditated  attack.  When,  in  the  summer  of  1777,  Fort 
Montgomery  was  captured  by  the  enemy,  and  it  was  de 
termined  to  erect  another  fortification  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  for  the  defence  of  that  river,  the  commander-in- 
chief  left  it  wholly  to  the  judgment  of  General  Putnam  to 
fix  on  the  spot,  who  decided  in  favor  of  West  Point;  and, 
as  his  biographer  has  remarked,  '  it  is  no  vulgar  praise  to 
say,  that  to  him  belongs  the  glory  of  having  chosen  this 
rock  of  our  military  salvation.' " 

As  an  instance  of  the  decision  of  his  temper,  the  follow 
ing  is  deserving  of  notice.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Nathan 
Palmer  was  detected  in  General  Putnam's  camp,  who,  on 
trial,  was  found  to  be  a  lieutenant  in  the  tory  new  levies. 
Governor  Tryon,  their  commander,  addressed  General  Put 
nam,  and  reclaimed  Palmer  as  a  British  officer,  and  threat 
ened  vengeance  in  case  he  should  be  executed.  This  drew 
from  him  a  reply  in  the  following  laconic  style: 

"Sin:  Nathan  Palmer,  a  lieutenant  in  your  king's  service,  was  taken 
in  my  camp  as  a  spy, — he  was  tried  as  a  spy, — he  was  condemned  as  a 
spy, — and  you  may  rest  assured,  sir,  that  he  shall  be  hanged  as  a  spy. 
"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.  "ISRAEL  PUTNAM. 

"His  Excellency  Governor  Tryon. 

"P.  S.  Afternoon.     He  is  hanged." 

In  December,  1779,  while  on  his  return  from  Connecti 
cut  to  head-quarters,  this  venerable  man  was  attacked  by 


410  APPENDIX. 

a  paralytic  affection,  under  which  he  languished  till  the 
19th  of  May,  1790,  when  his  honorable  and  useful  life 
was  brought  to  a  final  close.  The  qualities  of  his  mind 
were  sincerity,  generosity  and  an  invincible  sense  of  duty. 
The  moral  virtues,  and  duties  of  piety  and  pure  religion, 
were  objects  of  his  serious  reflection,  and  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  D wight,  in  his  Travels,  has  eulogized  these  as  eminent 
traits  in  his  character. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Gen.  Washington  to  Gen.  Putnam,  dated 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  2d  June,  1TS3. 

"DEAR  SIR:  Your  favor  of  the  20th  of  May  I  received  with  much 
pleasure.  For  I  can  assure  you  that,  among  the  many  worthy  and  mer 
itorious  officers  with  whom  I  have  had  the  happiness  to  be  connected  in 
service  through  the  course  of  this  war,  and  from  whose  cheerfUl  assist 
ance  in  the  various  and  trying  vicissitudes  of  a  complicated  contest,  the 
name  of  Putnam  is  not  forgotten;  nor  will  it  be,  but  with  that  stroke  of 
time  which  shall  obliterate  from  my  mind  the  remembrance  of  all  those 
toils  and  fatigues  through  which  we  have  struggled  for  the  preservation 
and  establishment  of  the  rights,  liberties,  and  independence  of  our  coun 
try.  Your  congratulations  on  the  happy  prospect  of  peace  and  inde 
pendent  security,  with  their  attendant  blessings  to  the  United  States,  I 
receive  with  great  satisfaction ;  and  beg  you  will  accept  a  return  of  my 
gratulations  to  you,  on  this  auspicious  event — an  event  in  which,  great 
as  it  is  in  itself,  and  glorious  as  it  will  probably  be  in  its  consequences, 
you  have  a  right  to  participate  largely,  from  the  distinguished  part  you 
have  contributed  towards  its  attainment.  I  anticipate  with  pleasure  the 
day,  and  I  trust  not  far  off,  when  I  shall  quit  the  busy  scenes  of  military 
employment,  and  retire  to  the  more  tranquil  walks  of  domestic  life.  la 
that,  or  whatever  other  situation  Providence  may  dispose  of  my  future 
days,  the  remembrance  of  the  many  friendships  and  connexions  I  have  had 
the  happiness  to  contract  with  the  gentlemen  of  the  army,  will  be  one  of 
my  most  grateful  reflections. 

"Under  this  contemplation,  and  impressed  with  the  sentiments  of 
benevolence  and  regard,  I  commend  you,  my  dear  sir,  my  other  friends, 
and,  with  them,  the  interests  and  happiness  of  our  dear  country,  to  the 
keeping  and  protection  of  Almighty  God. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.,  &c. 

"GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 
"  To  the  Hon.  Major-General  Putnam." 

The  following  eulogium  was  pronounced  at  tne  grave 
of  General  Putnam  by  Dr.  A.  Waldo: 

"Those  venerable  relics!  once  delighted  in  the  endearing  domestic 
virtues  which  constitute  the^xcellent  neighbor — husband — parent — and 
worthy  brother!  liberal  and  substantial  in  his  friendship ; — unsuspicious 
— open — and  generous;  just  and  sincere  in  dealing;  a  benevolent  citi 
zen  of  the  world — he  concentrated  in  his  bosom  the  noble  qualities  of  an 
Honest  Man. 


APPENDIX. 

"Born  a  Hero — whom  nature  taught  and  cherished  in  the  lap  of  innu 
merable  toils  and  dangers,  he  was  terrible  in  battle!  But,  from  the 
amiableness  of  his  heart — when  carnage  ceased,  his  humanity  spread 
over  the  field,  like  the  refreshing  zephyrs  of  a  summer's  evening!  The 
prisoner- — the  wounded — the  sick — the  forlorn — experienced  the  delicate 
sympathy  of  this  Soldier's  Pillar.  The  poor  and  the  needy  of  every  de 
scription,  received  the  charitable  bounties  of  this  Christian  Soldier. 

uHe  pitied  Idleness — loved  goodness — admired  greatness,  and  ever 
aspired  to  its  ^orious  summit!  The  friend,  the  servant,  and  almost  un 
paralleled  lover  of  his'  country ; — worn  with  honorable  age,  and  the 
former  toils  of  war — Putnam  rests  from  his  labors ! 

""Till  mouldering  worlds  arid  tremblihg  systems  burst! 
When  Ihe  last  irnmp  ehall  renovate  his  dust — 
ytill  by  the  mandate  of  eternal  truth, 
His  soul  will  flourish  in  immortal  youth!' 

'"This  all  who  knew  him,  know  ;  this  all  who  loved  him  tell.'" 

* 

Dr.  Dwigtit  penned  a  very  excellent  inscription,  which 
is  engraved  on  his  tomb,  but  our  narrow  limits  must 
apologize  for  its  omission  in  this  place. 


MAJOR-GENERAL    WILLIAM    HEATH, 

MAJOR-GENERAL  WILLIAM  HEATH  was  a  native  of 
Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  and  was  from  his  youth  a  culti 
vator  of  the  soil,  which  was  his  favorite  pursuit.  He  was 
not  conversant  with  general  literature;  but,  being  partic 
ularly  attached  to  the  study  of  military  tactics,  he  acquired 
a  knowledge  of  modern  warfare  in  its  various  branches 
and  duties. 

At  an  early  period  of  the  opposition  of  the  colonies  to 
the  unjust  and  oppressive  measures  of  the  British  ministry, 
he  was  an  active  militia  officer,  and  assiduously  engaged 
in  organizing  and  disciplining  the  companies  of  militia 
and  minute-men.  In  the  year  1775,  being  ranked  among 
the  patriots  and  advocates  for  liberty,  he  was  by  the  Pro 
vincial  Congress  commissioned  as  a  brigadier-general. 

During  the  siege  of  Boston,  he  was  in  commission  as  a 
general  officer,  but  on  no  occasion  distinguished  for  enter 
prise  or  important  services.  When  General  Washington 
contemplated  an  attack  on  Boston,  General  Heath  was 
offered  the  command  of  a  division,  but  he  declined  the 
hazardous  service.  In  August,  1776,  he  was  by  Congress 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the  continental 
27 


412  AJTEMMX. 

army,  and  in  the  campaign  of  that  year  he  commanded  a 
division  near  the  enemy's  lines  at  King's-bridge  and  Mor- 
risania.  During  the  year  1777,  and  till  November,  1778, 
he  was  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Eastern  department, 
and  his  head-quarters  were  at  Boston.  Here  devolved 
on  him  the  very  arduous  duties  of  superintendent  of  the 
convention  troops,  captured  with  General  Burgoyne  at 
Saratoga,  which  were  quartered  at  Cambridge.  This 
station  required  a  character  of  uncommon  firmness  and 
decision,  and  had  General  Heath  been  destitute  of  these 
qualities,  he  would  have  been  subjected  to  the  grossest 
impositions  and  indignities,  from  the  haughty  Generals 
Burgoyne  and  Phillips,  and  the  perverse  temper  of  their 
soldiery.  These  officers,  lofty  in  spirit,  and  or  high  rank 
and  character,  now  chagrined  by  a  state  of  captivity,  oc 
casioned  to  General  Heath  a  series  of  difficulties  and  vex 
ations.  He  soon,  however,  convinced,  them  that  he  was 
neither  deficient  in  spirit  nor  ignorant  of  his  duty,  as  a 
military  commander.  In  all  his  proceedings  with  these 
turbulent  captives,  he  supported  the  authority  of  Congress 
and  the  honor  and  dignity  of  the  command  reposed  in  him; 
and  he  received  the  entire  approbation  of  that  honorable 
body,  to  whom  he  was  amenable  for  his  conduct.  In  the 
most  interesting  and  critical  circumstances  in  which  a  gen 
eral  could  possibly  be  placed,  he  uniformly  exhibited  a 
prudence,  animation,  decision,  and  firmness  which  have 
done  him  honor,  and  fully  justified  the  confidence  re 
posed  in  him. 

The  cordial  and  most  explicit  approbation  of  the  army, 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  the  army  and  nav}'  of  our 
illustrious  ally,  the  government  of  this  state,  his  excellency 
the  commander-in-chief,  and  of  Congress,  added  to  the 
consciousness  of  his  having  discharged  his  trust  with 
fidelity,  must  in  a  great  measure  have  alleviated  the  fa 
tigues  incident  to*his  arduous  station,  and  compensated  the 
loss  of  his  health,  so  much  impaired  by  an  incessant  atten 
tion  to  business.*  In  June,  1779,  General  Heath  was 
elected  by  Congress  a  commissioner  of  the  Board  of  War, 
with  a  salary  of  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  and  al 
lowed  to  retain  his  rank  in  the  army,  which  he  declined, 
preferring  to  participate  in  active  operations  in  the  field. 

*  Continental  Journal,  printed  at  Boston,  November  12th,  177S. 


APPENDIX.  413 

In  the  summer  of  1780,  he  was  directed  by  the  com- 
marider-in-chief  to  repair  to  Rhode  Island,  to  make  arrange 
ments  for  the  reception  of  the  French  fleet  and  army,  which 
were  expected  soon  to  arrive.  In  his  interview  with  the 
Count  Rocharnbeau  and  other  officers  of  the  French  army 
and  navy,  he  proffered  his  friendly  civilities,  and  contri 
buted  all  in  his  power  to  their  comfortable  accommodation, 
which  was  productive  of  a  mutual  and  lasting  friendship 
between  them.  Indefatigable  attention  to  duty,  in  the 
various  stations  assigned  him,  was  a  prominent  trait  in  his 
character.  In  May,  1781,  General  Heath  was  directed  by 
the  eommander-in-chief  to  repair  to  the  New  England 
states,  to  represent  to  their  respective  executives  the  dis 
tressing  condition  of  our  army,  and  to  solicit  a  speedy 
supply  of  provisions  and  clothing,  in  which  he  was  suc 
cessful.  As  senior  major-general,  he  was  more  than  once 
commander  of  the  right  wing  of  our  army,  and  during  the 
absence  of  the  commander-in-chief,  at  the  siege  of  York- 
town,  he  was  intrusted  with  the  command  of  the  main 
army,  posted  at  the  highlands  and  vicinity,  to  guard  the 
important  works  on  the  Hudson,  On  the  24th  of  June, 
1784,  hostilities  having  ceased  between  the  two  armies, 
General  Washington  addressed  a  letter  to  General  Heath, 
expressing  his  thanks  for  his  meritorious  services,  and  his 
real  affection  and  esteem,  and  on  the  same  day  they  took 
their  final  leave. 

General  Heath  was  corpulent  and  bald-headed,  which 
occasioned  some  of  the  French  officers  to  observe  that  he 
resembled  the  Marquis  of  Granby,  and  he  appeared  always 
pleased  with  the  comparison.  As  an  officer  of  parade  and 
discipline,  he  was  respectable;  but  for  valorous  achieve 
ments,  we  look  in  vain  for  his  laurels.  Had  it  been  his 
destiny,  however,  to  encounter  the  perils  of  a  conflict  in 
the  field  of  blood,  no  one  can  say  with  what  adroitness  he 
would  have  played  the  hero. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  war,  General  Heath 
was  called  again  into  public  service  in  civil  life,  and. con 
tinued  to  hold  a  seat,  either  in  the  legislature  or  in  the 
council  of  Massachusetts,  till  the  county  of  Norfolk  was 
established,  in  1793,  when  he  \v.as  appointed  by  Governor 
Hancock  judge  of  probate  and  a  justice  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas;  the  latter  office  he  did  not  accept;  in  the 


414  APPENDIX. 

former  he  continued  till  his  death.  He  was  also  a  mem 
ber  of  the  state  convention  which  ratified  the  federal  con 
stitution.  All  these  offices  he  discharged  with  assiduity, 
affability  and  impartiality,  and  to  the  general  satisfaction 
of  his  fellow-citizens. 

He  had  formed  his  opinion  of  human  nature  on  the  most 
favorable  examples,  and  to  the  close  of  life  had  a  strong 
regard  to  popular  opinion.  He  repeatedly  allowed  himself 
to  be  held  up  and  voted  for,  for  the  office  of  governor  and 
lieutenant-governor  of  the  commonwealth,  and  at  one 
period  had,  no  doubt,  a  willingness  and  desire  to  hold  one 
of  these  offices.  In  1806  he  was  elected  lieutenant-gov 
ernor.  His  refusal  of  the  office  was  matter  of  surprise  to 
many,  and  was  by  some  imputed  to  an  unwillingness  to 
serve  with  Governor  Strong;  while  it  was  well  known  to 
those  most  intimate  with  him  to  be  owing  to  his  disappro 
bation  of  the  conduct  of  the  legislature  of  that  year,  in 
their  memorable  attempt  to  defeat  the  voice  of  the  people, 
by  setting  aside  Governor  Strong's  election. 

He  was  more  than  once  an  elector  of  president  and  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States,  and  gave  his  vote  to  those 
who  undertook  to  appropriate  to  themselves  the  name 
republican,  till  the  election  preceding  his  death,  when  he 
withheld  his  vote  from  Mr.  Madison,  on  account  of  his 
recommending  the  declaration  of  war  in  1812,  and  sanc 
tioning  the  measures  which  preceded  and  followed  this 
event,  and  which  caused  the  general  wholly  to  withdraw 
his  confidence  from  that  administration. 

Such  was  General  Heath's  public  life.  His  private  one 
was  retired  and  domestic,  amiable,  orderly,  and  industri 
ous,  but  not  remarkable  for  hospitality,  or  a  liberal  appro 
priation  of  property  to  public  purposes.  He  died  at 
Koxbury,  January  24th,  1814,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  BENJAMIN  LINCOLN, 

GENERAL  LINCOLN  deserves  a  high  rank  in  the  fraternity 
of  American  heroes.  He  was  born  in  Hingham,  Massa 
chusetts,  January  23d,  (O.  S.)  1733.  His  early  education 
was  not  auspicious  to  his  future  eminence,  and  his  vocation 
was  that  of  a  farmer,  till  he  was  more  than  forty  years  of 


APPENDIX. 

age,  though  he  was  commissioned  as  a  magistrate,  and 
elected  a  representative  in  the  state  legislature.  In  the 
year  1775,  he  sustained  the  office  of  lieutenant-colonel  of 
militia,  and  having  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country  as 
a  firm  and  determined  whig,  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Provincial  Congress,  and  one  of  the  secretaries  of  that 
body,  and  also  a  member  of  the  committee  of  correspond 
ence.  In  1776  he  was  appointed  by  the  council  of  Mas- 
chusetts  a  brigadier,  and  soon  after  a  major-general,  and 
he  applied  himself  assiduously  to  training  and  preparing 
the  militia  for  actual  service  in  the  field,  in  which  he  dis 
played  the  military  talent  which  he  possessed.  In  October, 
he  marched  with  a  body  of  militia,  and  joined  the  main 
army  at  New  York.  The  commander-in-chief,  from  a 
knowledge  of  his  character  and  merit,  recommended  him 
to  Congress  as  an  excellent  officer,  and  in  February,  1777, 
he  was  by  that  honorable  body  created  a  major-general  on 
the  continental  establishment.  For  several  months  he 
commanded  a  division,  or  detachments  in  the  main  army, 
under  Washington,  and  was  in  situations  which  required 
the  exercise  of  the  utmost  vigilance  and  caution,  as  well 
as  firmness  and  courage.  Having  the  command  of  about 
five  hundred  men  in  an  exposed  situation  near  Bound 
Brook,  through  the  neglect  of  his  patroles,  a  large  body 
of  the  enemy  approached  within  two  hundred  yards  of  his 
quarters  undiscovered;  the  general  had  scarcely  time  to 
mount  and  leave  the 'house  before  it  was  surrounded.  He 
led  off  his  troops,  however,  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  and 
made  good  his  retreat,  though  with  the  loss  of  about  sixty 
men,  killed  and  wounded.  One  of  his  aids  with  the  gen 
eral's  baggage  and  papers  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
as  did  also  three  small  pieces  of  artillery.  In  July,  1777, 
General  Washington  selected  him  to  join  the  northern 
army,  under  the  command  of  General  Gates,  to  oppose 
the  advance  of  General  Burgoyne  He  took  his  station 
at  Manchester,  in  Vermont,  to  receive  and  form  the  New 
England  militia,  as  they  arrived,  and  to  order  their  march 
to  the  rear  of  the  British  army.  He  detached  Colonel 
Brown  with  five  hundred  men  on  the  13th  of  September 
to  the  landing  at  Lake  George,  where  he  succeeded  in  sur 
prising  the  enemy,  and  took  possession  of  two  hundred 
batteaux,  liberated  one  hundred  American  prisoners,  and 


410  APPENDIX. 

captured  two  hundred  and  ninety-three  of  the  enemy,  with, 
the  loss  of  only  three  killed  and  five  wounded.  This  en 
terprise  was  of  the  highest  importance,  and  contributed 
essentially  to  the  glorious  event  which  followed.  Having 
detached  two  other  parties  to  the  enemy's  posts  at  Mount 
Independence  and  Skenesborough,  General  Lincoln  united 
his  remaining  force  with  the  army  under  General  Gates, 
and  was  the  second  in  command.  During  the  sanguinary 
conflict  on  the  7th  of  October,  General  Lincoln  commanded 
within  our  lines,  and  at  one  o'clock  the  next  morning  he 
marched  with  his  division  to  relieve  the  troops  that  had 
been  engaged,  and  to  occupy  the  battle-ground,  the  enemy 
having  retreated.  While  on  this  duty  he  had  occasion  to 
ride  forward  some  distance,  to  reconnoitre,  and  to  order 
some  disposition  of  his  own  troops,  when  a  party  of  the 
enemy  made  an  unexpected  movement,  and  he  approached 
within  musket-shot  before  he  was  aware  of  his  mistake. 
A  whole  volley  of  musketry  was  instantly  discharged  at 
him  and  his  aids,  and  he  received  a  wound  by  which,  the 
bones  of  his  leg  were  badly  fractured,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  be  carried  off  the  field.  The  wound  was  a  formidable 
one,  and  the  loss  of  his  limb  was  for  some  time  apprehended. 
He  was  for  several  months  confined  at  Albany,  and  it  be 
came  necessary  to  remove  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
main  bone  before  he  was  conveyed  to  his  house  at  Hing- 
ham;  and  under  this  painful  surgical  operation,  the  writer 
of  this  being  present,  witnessed  in  him  a  degree  of  firm 
ness  and  patience  not  to  be  exceeded.  I  have  known  him, 
says  Colonel  Kice,  who  was  a  member  of  his  military 
family,  during  the  most  painful  operation  by  the  surgeon, 
while  bystanders  were  frequently  obliged  to  leave  the  room, 
entertain  us  with  some  pleasant  anecdote,  or  story,  and 
draw  forth  a  smile  from  his  friends.  His  wound  continued 
several  years  in  an  ulcerated  state,  and  by  the  loss  of  the 
bone  the  limb  was  shortened,  which  occasioned  lameness 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  General  Lincoln  cer 
tainly  afforded  very  important  assistance  in  the  capture 
of  Burgoyne,  though  it  was  his  unfortunate  lot,  while  in 
active  duty,  to  be  disabled  before  he  could  participate  in 
the  capitulation.  Though  his  recovery  was  not  complete, 
ae  repaired  to  head-quarters  in  the  following  August,  and 
was  joyfully  received  by  the  commander-in-chief,  who  well 


APPENDIX. 

knew  how  to  appreciate  his  merit.  It  was  from  a  devel 
opment  of  bis  estimable  character  as  a  man,  and  his  talent 
as  a  military  commander,  that  he  was  designated  by  Con 
gress  for  the  arduous  duties  of  the  chief  command  in  the 
southern  department,  under  innumerable  embarrassments. 
On  his  arrival  at  Charleston,  December,  1778,  he  found 
that  he  had  to  form  an  army,  to  provide  supplies,  and  to 
arrange  the  various  departments,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
cope  with  an  enemy  consisting  of  experienced  officers 
and  veteran  troops.  This,  it  is  obvious,  required  a  man 
of  superior  powers,  indefatigable  perseverance,  and  uncon 
querable  energy.  Had  not  these  been  his  inherent  quali 
ties,  Lincoln  must  have  yielded  to  the  formidable  obstacles 
which  opposed  his  progress.  About  the  28th  of  Decem 
ber,  General  Prevost  arrived  with  a  fleet  and  about  three 
thousand  British  troops,  and  took  possession  of  Savannah, 
after  routing  a  small  party  of  Americans,  under  General 
Robert  Howe.  General  Lincoln  immediately  put  his  troops 
in  motion,  and  took  post  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river, 
about  twenty  miles  from  the  city;  but  he  was  not  in  force 
to  commence  offensive  operations  till  the  last  of  February. 
In  April,  with  the  view  of  covering  the  upper  part  of 
Georgia,  he  marched  to  Augusta;  after  which  Prevost,  the 
British  commander,  crossed  the  river  into  Carolina,  and 
marched  for  Charleston.  General  Lincoln,  therefore,  re- 
crossed  the  Savannah,  and  followed  his  route,  and  on  his 
arrival  near  the  cit}^,  the  enemy  had  retired  from  before 
it  during  the  previous  night.  A  detachment  of  the  enemy, 
supposed  to  be  about  six  hundred  men,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Maitland,  being  posted  at  Stone-Ferry,  where  they 
had  erected  works  for  their  defence,  General  Lincoln  re 
solved  to  attack  them,  which  he  did  on  the  19th  of  June. 
The  contest  lasted  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes,  in  which 
he  lost  one  hundred  and  sixty  men  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  enemy  suffered  about  an  equal  loss.  Their  works 
were  found  to  be  much  stronger  than  had  been  represented, 
and  our  artillery  proving  too  light  to  annoy  them,  and  the 
enemy  receiving  a  reinforcement,  our  troops  were  obliged 
to  retire. 

The  next  event  of  importance  which  occurred  with  our 
general,  was  the  bold  assault  on  Savannah,  in  conjunction 
with  the  Count  D'Estaing.  General  Prevost  had  again 


418  APPENDIX. 

possessed  himself  of  that  city,  and  Count  D'Estaing  ar 
rived  with  his  fleet  and  armament  in  the  beginning  of 
September,  1779.  Having  landed  nearly  three  thousand 
French  troops,  General  Lincoln  immediately  united  about 
one  thousand  men  to  his  force.  The  prospect  of  success 
was  highly  flattering,  but  the  enemy  exerted  all  their  ef 
forts  in  strengthening  their  lines,  and  after  the  count  had 
summoned  the  garrison,  and  while  Prevost  was  about  to 
arrange  articles  of  capitulation,  he  received  a  reinforce 
ment.  It  was  now  resolved  to  attempt  the  place  by  a 
regular  siege,  but  various  causes  occasioned  a  delay  of 
several  days,  and  when  it  commenced,  the  cannonade  and 
bombardment  failed  of  producing  the  desired  effect,  and 
the  short  time  allowed  the  count  on  our  coast,  was  quite 
insufficient  for  reducing  the  garrison  by  regular  approaches. 
The  commanders  concluded,  therefore,  to  make  an  effort 
on  the  works  by  assault.  On  the  9th  of  October,  in  the 
morning,  the  troops  were  led  on  by  D'Estaing  and  Lin 
coln,  united,  while  a  column  led  by  Count  Dillon  missed 
their  route  in  the  darkness,  and  failed  of  the  intended  co 
operation.  Amidst  a  most  appalling  fire  of  the  covered 
enemy,  the  allied  troops  forced  the  abatis,  and  planted  two 
standards  on  the  parapets.  But  being  overpowered  at  the 
point  of  attack,  they  were  compelled  to  retire;  the  French 
having  seven  hundred,  the  Americans  two  hundred  and 
forty  killed  and  wounded.  The  Count  Pulaski,  at  the 
head  of  a  body  of  our  horse,  was  mortally  wounded. 
General  Lincoln  next  repaired  to  Charleston,  and  endeav 
ored  to  put  that  city  in  a  posture  of  defence,  urgently  re 
questing  of  Congress  a  reinforcement  of  regular  troops,  and 
additional  supplies,  which  were  but  partially  complied 
with.  In  February,  1780,  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton  ar 
rived,  and  landed  a  formidable  force  in  the  vicinity ;  and 
on  the  10th  of  March  encamped  in  front  of  the  American 
lines  at  Charleston.  Considering  the  vast  superiority  of 
the  enemy,  both  in  sea  and  land  forces,  it  might  be  ques 
tioned  whether  prudence  arid  correct  judgment  would 
dictate  an  attempt  to  defend  the  city;  it  will  not  be  sup 
posed,  however,  that  the  determination  was  formed  without 
the  most  mature  deliberation,  and  for  reasons  perfectly 
justifiable.  It  is  well  known  that  the  general  was  in  con 
tinual  expectation  of  an  augmentation  of  strength  by  rein* 


APPENDIX. 


419 


forcements.  On  the  10th  of  April,  the  enemy  having 
made  some  advances,  summoned  the  garrison  to  an  uncon 
ditional-surrender,  which  was  promptly  refused.  A  heavy 
and  incessant  cannonade  was  sustained  on  each  side,  till 
the  llth  of  May,  when  the  besiegers  had  completed  their 
third  parallel  line,  and  having  made  a  second  demand  of 
surrender,  a  capitulation  was  agreed  on. 

"Having  received,"  says  the  general,  "an  address  from 
the  principal  inhabitants,  and  from  a  number  of  the  coun 
try  militia,  desiring  that  I  would  accept  the  terms;  and  a 
request  from  the  lieutenant-governor  and  council,  that  the 
negotiation  might  be  renewed;  the  militia  of  the  town 
having  thrown  down  their  arms;  our  provisions,  saving  a 
little  rice,  being  exhausted;  the  troops  on  the  line  being 
worn  down  by  fatigue,  having  for  a  number  of  days  been 
obliged  to  lay  on  the  banquette ;  our  harbor  closely  blocked 
up;  completely  invested  by  land  by  nine  thousand  men 
at  least,  the  flower  of  the  British  army,  besides  the  large 
force  they  could  at  all  times  draw  from  the  marine,  and 
aided  by  a  great  number  of  blacks  in  their  laborious  em 
ployments;  the  garrison  at  this  time,  exclusive  of  sailors, 
but  little  exceeding  two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  part 
of  whom  had  thrown  down  their  arms;  the  citizens  in 
general  discontented,  the  enemy  being  within  twenty  yards 
of  our  lines,  and  preparing  to  make  a  general  assault  by 
sea  and  land;  many  of  our  cannon  dismounted,  and  others 
silenced  for  want  of  shot;  a  retreat  being  judged  impracti 
cable,  and  every  hope  of  timely  succor  cut  off,  we  were 
induced  to  offer  and  accede  to  the  terms  executed  on  the 
12th  of  May."  It  is  to  be  lamented  that,  with  all  the 
judicious  and  vigorous  efforts  in  his  power,  General  Lin 
coln  was  requited  only  by  the  frowns  of  fortune,  whereas 
had  he  been  successful  in  his  bold  enterprise  and  views, 
he  would  have  been  crowned  with  unfading  laurels.  But 
notwithstanding  a  series  of  disappointments  and  unfortu 
nate  occurrences,  he  was  censured  by  no  one,  nor  was  his 
judgment  or  merit  called  in  question.  He  retained  his 
popularity  and  the  confidence  of  the  army,  and  was  con 
sidered  as  a  most  zealous  patriot,  and  the  bravest  of  sol 
diers.  "The  motives  and  feelings  that  prompted  General 
Lincoln  rather  to  risk  a  siege  than  to  evacuate  Charleston 
were  most  honorable  to  him  as  a  man  and  a  soldier.  There 


420  APPENDIX. 

was  such  a  balance  of  reasons  on  the  question,  as  under  the 
existing  circumstances  should  exempt  his  decision  from 
blame  or  distrust.  He  could  not  calculate  on  the  despond 
ence  and  inactivity  of  the  people  who  should  come  to  his 
succor.  The  suspense  and  anxiety,  the  toil  and  hazard 
attending  the  siege,  gave  the  fullest  scope  to  his  wisdom, 
patience  and  valor.  His  exertions  were  incessant.  He 
was  on  the  lines  night  and  day,  and  for  the  last  fortnight 
never  undressed  to  sleep."*  Notwithstanding  this  unfor 
tunate  termination  of  his  command,  so  established  was  the 
spotless  reputation  of  the  vanquished  general,  that  he  con 
tinued  to  enjoy  the  undiminished  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  Congress,  the  army,  and  the  cornmander-in-chief.f 
"  Great  praise  is  due  to  General  Lincoln,"  says  Dr.  Kamsay, 
"for  his  judicious  and  spirited  conduct  in  baffling  for  three 
months  the  greatly  superior  force  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and 
Admiral  Arburthnot.  Though  Charleston  and  the  South 
ern  army  were  lost,  yet,  by  their  long-protracted  defence, 
the  British  plans  were  not  only  retarded  but  deranged, 
and  North  Carolina  was  saved  for  the  remainder  of  the 
year  1780." 

General  Lincoln  was  admitted  to  his  parole,  and  in 
November  following  he  was  exchanged  for  Major-General 
Phillips,  a  prisoner  of  the  convention  of  Saratoga.  In 
the  campaign  of  1781,  General  Lincoln  commanded  a  di 
vision  under  Washington,  and  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown 
he  had  his  full  share  of  the  honor  of  that  brilliant  and 
auspicious  event.  The  articles  of  capitulation  stipulated 
for  the  same  honor  in  favor  of  the  surrendering  army,  as 
had  been  granted  to  the  garrison  of  Charleston.  General 
Lincoln  was  appointed  to  conduct  them  to  the  field  where 
their  arms  were  deposited,  and  received  the  customary 
submission.  In  the  general  order  of  the  commander-in- 
chief  the  day  after  the  capitulation,  General  Lincoln  was 
among  the  general  officers  whose  services  were  particularly 
mentioned.  In  October,  1781,  he  was  chosen  by  Congress 
secretary  at  war,  retaining  his  rank  in  the  army.  In  this 
office  he  continued  till  October,  1783,  when  his  proffered 
resignation  was  accepted  by  Congress  as  follows: 

*  Notice  of  General  Lincoln  in  the  Collection  of  the  Historical  Society, 
vol.  3d,  second  series,  from  which  I  have  made  other  extracts, 
t  Lee's  Memoirs  of  the  War  in  the  Southern  Department. 


APPENDIX.  421 

"Resolved,  That  the  resignntion  of  Major-General  Lincoln,  as  secre 
tary  of  war  for  the  United  States,  be  accepted  in  consideration  of  the 
earnest  desire  which  lie  expresses,  the  objects  of  the  war  being  so  hap 
pily  accomplished,  to  retire  to  private  life,  and  that  he  be  informed  that 
the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  entertain  a  high  sense  of  his 
perseverance,  fortitude,  activity  and  meritorious  services  in  the  field,  as 
well  as  of  his  diligence,  fidelity  and  capacity  in  the  execution  of  the  office 
of  secretary  at  war,  which  important  trust  he  has  discharged  to  their 
entire  approbation." 

Having  relinquished  the  duties  and  cares  of  a  public 
employment,  he  retired,  and  devoted  his  attention  to  his 
farm;  but  in  1784,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  commission 
ers  and  agents  on  the  part  of  the  state  to  make  and  execute 
a  treaty  with  the  Penobscot  Indians.  When  in  the  year 
1786-7,  the  authority  of  our  state  government  was  in  a 
manner  prostrated,  and  the  country  alarmed  by  a  most 
audacious  spirit  of  insurrection,  under  the  guidance  of 
Shays  and  Day,  General  Lincoln  was  appointed  by  the 
governor  and  council  to  command  a  detachment  of  militia, 
consisting  of  four  or  five  thousand  men,  to  oppose  their 
progress,  and  compel  them  to  a  submission  to  the  laws, 
lie  marched  from  Boston  on  the  20th  of  January,  into  the 
counties  of  Worcester,  Hampshire,  and  Berkshire,  where 
the  insurgents  had  erected  their  standard.  They  were 
embodied  in  considerable  force,  and  manifested  a  deter 
mined  resistance,  and  a  slight  skirmish  ensued  between 
them  and  a  party  of  militia  under  General  Shepherd. 
Lincoln,  however,  conducted  with  such  address  and  energy, 
that  the  insurgents  were  routed  from  one  town  to  another, 
till  they  were  completely  dispersed  in  all  directions;  and 
by  his  wise  and  prudent  measures  the  insurrection  was 
happily  suppressed  without  bloodshed,  excepting  a  few 
individuals  who  \vere  slain  under  General  Shepherd's 
command.  At  the  May  election,  1787,  General  Lincoln 
was  elected  lieutenant-governor  by  the  legislature,  having 
had  a  plurality  of  votes  by  the  people.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  convention  for  ratifying  the  federal  constitution, 
and  in  the  summer  of  1789,  he  received  from  President 
Washington  the  appointment  of  collector  of  the  port  of 
Boston,  which  office  he  sustained  till,  being  admonished 
by  the  increasing  infirmities  of  age,  he  requested  permis 
sion  to  resign,  about  two  years  before  his  death.  In  1789, 
lie  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  treat  with 


422  APPENDIX. 

the  Creek  Indians  on  the  frontiers  of  the  Southern  states, 
and  in  1793  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  effect  a 
peace  with  the  Western  Indians.  The  subject  of  this 
memoir  received  from  the  University  of  Cambridge  the 
honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  members  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  and  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society,  and  he  contributed  by  his  pen  to  the  stock  of 
useful  materials  for  their  respective  publications.  Having, 
after  his  resignation  of  the  office  of  collector,  passed  about 
two  years  in  retirement  and  in  tranquillity  of  mind,  but 
experiencing  the  feebleness  of  age,  he  received  a  short 
attack  of  disease,  by  which  his  honorable  life  was  termin 
ated  on  the  9th  of  May,  1810,  aged  77  years.  The  follow 
ing  tribute  is  on  the  records  of  the  society  of  Cincinnati : 

"At  the  annual  meeting  in  July,  1810,  Major-General  John  Brooks 
was  chosen  president  of  the  society,  to  supply  the  place  of  our  venerable 
and  much-lamented  president,  General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  who  had  pre 
sided  over  the  society  from  the  organization  thereof,  in  1783,  to  the  9th 
of  May,  1810,  the  day  of  his  decease,  with  the  entire  approbation  of 
every  member,  and  the  grateful  tribute  of  his  surviving  comrades,  for  his 
happy  guidance  and  affectionate  attentions  during  so  long  a  period." 

General  Lincoln  in  his  very  nature  was  unsusceptible 
of  the  spirit  of  envy.  Whoever  achieved  a  noble  action 
to  the  honor  and  advantage  of  his  country,  whether  as  a 
patriot  or  soldier,  was  with  him  the  man  of  merit  and  the 
theme  of  eulogy,  though  it  might  eclipse  his  own  fame. 
He  was  universally  respected  as  one  of  the  best  of  men, 
of  ardent  patriotism,  and  of  heroic  courage.  Major-Gen 
eral  Knox,  whose  candor  and  discriminating  judgment  no 
one  will  deny,  was  known  to  estimate  next  to  Washington 
in  military  talents,  Generals  Greene  and  Lincoln.  Colonel 
Nathan  Eice,  a  respectable  officer,  who  was  a  member  of 
his  military  family,  observes,  that  the  sacrifice  of  as  much 
domestic  happiness  as  falls  to  the  lot  of  men,  to  serve  his 
country,  would  seem  to  place  his 'patriotism  beyond  sus 
picion.  The  firmness  and  zeal  with  which  he  rendered 
this  service  during  her  struggle,  the  coolness  with  which 
he  met  danger,  his  fortitude  under  bodily  pain,  privation 
and  disappointments,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
the  commander-in-chief,  all  strongly  evince  that  his  coun 
try  had  not  misjudged  in  elevating  him  to  the  distinguished 


APPENDIX.  423 

rank  he  held  in  the  army.  While  at  Purysburgh,  on  the 
Savannah  river,  a  soldier  named  Fickling,  having  been 
detected  in  frequent  attempts  to  desert,  was  tried  and  sen 
tenced  to  be  hanged.  The  general  ordered  the  execution. 
The  rope  broke;  a  second  was  procured,  which  broke 
also;  the  case  was  reported  to  the  general  for  directions. 
"Let  him  run,"  said  the  general,  "I  thought  he  looked 
like  a  scape-gallows."*  Regularity  both  in  business  and 
his  mode  of  living  were  peculiar  traits  in  his  character; 
habitually  temperate,  and  accustomed  to  sleep  unconfined 
to  time  or  place.  In  conversation  he  was  always  correct 
and  chaste;  on  no  occasion  uttering  anything  like,  pro 
fanity  or  levity  on  serious  subjects,  and  when  others  have 
indulged  in  these  respects  in  his  presence,  it  was  ever  re- 

*  Major  Garden,  in  his  Anecdotes  of  the  American  Revolution,  relates 
this  story  with  some  addition.  It  happem-d  that  as  Fickling  was  led  to 
execution,  the  surgeon-general  of  the  army  passed  accidentally  on  his 
way  to  his  quarters,  which  were  at  some  distance.  When  the  second 
rope  was  procured,  the  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  a  stout  and  heavy  man, 
assayed  by  every  means  to  break  it,  but  without  effect.  Fickling  was 
then  haltered  and  again  turned  off,  when,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  by 
standers,  the  rope  untwisted,  and  he  fell  a  second  time  uninjured  to  the 
ground.  A  cry  for  mercy  was  now  general  throughout  the  ranks,  which 
occasioned  Major  Ladson,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Lincoln,  to  gallop  to 
head-quarters  to  make  a  representation  of  facts,  which  wrere  no  sooner 
stated  than  an  immediate  pardon  was  granted,  accompanied  with  an  or 
der  that  he  should  instantaneously  be  drummed,  with  every  mark  of 
infamy,  out  of  camp,  and  threatened  with  instant  death  if  he  ever  should 
be  found  attempting  to  approach  it.  In  the  interim,  the  surgeon-general 
had  established  himself  at  his  quarters  in  a  distant  barn,  little  doubting 
but  that  the  catastrophe  was  at  an  end,  and  Fickling  quietly  resting  in 
his  grave.  Midnight  was  at  hand,  and  he  was  busily  engaged  in  writing, 
when,  hearing  the  approach  of  a  footstep,  he  raised  his  eyes,  and  saw 
with  astonishment  the  figure  of  the  man  who  had  in  his  opinion  been 
executed,  slowly  and  with  haggard  countenance  approaching  towards 
him.  "How!  how  is  this?"  exclaimed  the  doctor;  "whence  come  you? 
what  do  you  want  with  me?  were  you  not  hanged  this  morning?" 
"Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  resuscitated  man;  "I  am  the  wretch  you  saw 
going  to  the  gallows,  and  who  was  hanged."  "Keep  your  distance," 
said  the  doctor;  "approach  me  not  till  you  say  why  you  come  here." 
"  Simply,  sir,"  said  the  supposed  spectre,  "  to  solicit  food.  I  am  no 
ghost,  doctor.  The  rope  broke  twice  while  the  executioner  was  doing 
his  office,  and  the  general  thought  proper  to  pardon  me."  "  If  that 
be  the  case,"  rejoined  the  doctor,  "eat  and  be  welcome;  but  I  beg  of 
you  in  future  to  have  a  little  more  consideration,  and  not  intrude  so 
unceremoniously  into  the  apartment  of  one  who  had  every  right  to  sup 
pose  you  an  inhabitant  of  the  tomb." 


424  APPENDIX. 

ceived  by  him  with  such  marked  disapprobation  of  coun 
tenance,  as  to  draw  from  them  an  instantaneous  apology, 
and  regret  for  the  offence.  Having,  while  collector,  ap 
pointed  a  violent  party-man  to  a  place  of  profit  merely 
from  motives  of  benevolence,  he  had  frequently,  with 
many  others,  abused  the  general,  calling  him  "a  damned 
old  rascal."  On  the  first  opportunity,  the  general  said  to 

him,  "So  Mr. ,  you  say  I  am  a  damned  old  rascal; 

you  might  have  spared  the  damned,"  without  adding  a 
word  more;  but  it  was  expressed  in  a  manner  that  pre 
vented  a  reply;  nor  did  fee  remove  him  from  office.  In 
the  various  characters  of  parent,  husband  and  master,  I 
aever  held  him  up,  says  Colonel  Rice,  as  a  model  of  per 
fection.  The  law  of  kindness  ever  dwelt  on  his  tongue. 

This  memoir  will  be  concluded  by  some  brief  extracts 
from  the  Historical  Collections: 

"In  General  Lincoln's  character,  strength  and  softness,  the  estimable 
and  amiable  qualities,  were  happily  blended.  His  mind  was  quick  and 
active,  yet  discriminating  and  sound.  He  displayed  a  fund  of  thought 
and  information,  derived  from  select  though  limited  reading,  from  careful 
observation  of  men  and  things,  from  habits  of  thinking,  and  from  con 
versation.  A  degree  of  enthusiasm  or  exultation  of  feeling  on  the  ob 
jects  of  his  pursuit  belonged  to  his  temperament,  but  it  was  under  the 
control  of  good  sense  and  sober  views.  He  was  patient  and  cool  in 
deliberation;  in  execution,  prompt  and  vigorous.  He  was  conspicuous 
for  plain,  strict,  inflexible  integrity,  united" however,  with  prudence,  can 
dor,  and  a  compassionate  disposition.  As  a  military  commander,  he  was 
judicious,  brave,  determined,  indefatigable.  His  distinguished  merit  in 
this  character  was  never  denied,  while  all  have  not  agreed  in  opinion  on 
some  of  his  plans  in  the  southern  command.  Being  a  soldier  of  the 
revolution,  he  had  to  anticipate  the  effect  of  experience,  and  might  com 
mit  mistakes.  He  was  surrounded  by  difficulties;  he  met  extraordinary 
disappointments  in  his  calculations  of  supplies  and  succors.  In  the 
principal  instances  which  issued  unfortunately,  the  storming  of  Savannah 
and  the  siege  of  Charleston,  he  had  but  a  choice  of  evils;  and  whichever 
way  he  decided,  the  course  rejected  would  have  seemed  to  many  persons 
more  eligible.  General  Lincoln  was  a  federalist  of  the  Washington 
school.  He  experienced  the  benefit  of  his  weight  of  character  and  the 
sense  entertained  by  the  community  of  his  public  services,  in  being  suf 
fered  to  retain  his  office  of  collector. 

"Religion  exerted  its  full  influence  over  the  mind  and  conduct  of 
General  Lincoln.  He  was  a  Christian  of  the  Anti-sectarian,  Catholic, 
or  liberal  sect.  He  was  firm  in  his  faith,  serious  and  affectionate  in  his 
piety,  without  superstition,  fanaticism  or  austerity.  He  was  from  early 
manhood  a  communicant,  and  for  a  great  part  of  his  life  a  deacon  of  the 
church.  He  never  shunned  an  avowal  of  his  belief,  nor  feared  to  appear 
what  he  was,  nor  permitted  the  reality  of  his  convictions  to  remain  in 


APPENDIX.  425 

doubt.  The  person  and  air  of  General  Lincoln  betokened  his  military 
vocation.  He  was  of  middle  height  and  erect,  broad-chested  and  mus 
cular,  in  his  latter  years  corpulent,  with  open  intelligent  features,  a  ven 
erable  and  benign  aspect.  His  manners  were  easy  and  unaffected,  but 
courteous  and  polite." 

In  all  his  transactions,  both  public  and  private,  his  mind 
was  elevated  above  all  sordid  or  sinister  views,  and  our 
history  will  not  perhaps  record  many  names  more  estima 
ble  than  was  that  of  General  Lincoln. 


FREDERICK  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  BARON  DE  STEUBEN, 

Knight  of  the  Order  of  Fidelity  in  Germany,  and  Major- General  in  the 
Army  of  the    United  States. 

THIS  highly  distinguished  personage  was  a  Prussian 
officer,  aid-de-camp  to  the  great  Frederick,  and  held  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-general  in  the  army  of  that  consummate 
commander.  He  arrived  in  America  December,  1777, 
and  presented  himself  with  his  credentials  to  Congress, 
proffering  his  services  in  our  army  without  any  claim  to 
rank,  and  requested  permission  only  to  render  such  assist 
ance  as  might  be  in  his  power,  in  the  character  of  a  vol 
unteer.  In  thus  devoting  himself  to  our  cause,  he  made 
an  immense  sacrifice,  by  relinquishing  his  honorable  sta 
tion  and  emoluments  in  Europe.  Congress  voted  hint 
their  thanks  for  his  zeal  and  the  disinterested  tender  of  his 
services,  and  he  joined  the  main  army  under  General 
Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  His  qualifications  for  a 
teacher  of  the  system  of  military  tactics  were  soon  mani 
fested;  having  for  many  years  practised  on  the  system 
which  the  king  of  Prussia  had  introduced  into  his  own 
army.  In  May,  1778,  by  the  strong  recommendation  of 
thecommander-in-chief,  Congress  appointed  him  inspector- 
general  with  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  commenced 
his  duties  as  inspector,  beginning  with  the  officers,  who 
were  formed  into  separate  bodies,  frequently  exercised  and 
instructed  in  the  various  movements  and  evolutions,  when 
manoeuvring  battalions,  brigades,  or  divisions  of  the  army. 
He  exerted  all  his  powers  for  the  establishment  of  a  regu 
lar  system  of  discipline,  economy,  and  uniformity  among 
our  heterogeneous  bodies  of  soldiers.  In  the  discharge  of 
this  duty,  and  to  effect  his  favorite  object,  he  encountered 


APPENDIX. 

obstacles  to  which  a  less  zealous  spirit  would  have  yielded 
as  insurmountable.  By  his  superior  talents,  indefatigable 
industry,  and  perseverance,  he  rendered  a  service  to  our 
army,  without  which  it  could  not  have  attained  to  a  con 
dition  capable  of  achieving  honor  and  glory  in  the  face  of 
European  veteran  troops.  Charmed  with  the  neat  and 
soldierly  appearance  of  those  who  had  profited  by  his 
instructions  and  duly  improved  in  the  art  of  discipline, 
and  equally  detesting  the  soldier  whose  awkward  and  un- 
military  conduct  betrayed  his  negligence,  there  never  was 
a  review  but  the  baron  rewarded  the  one  with  more  than 
praise,  and  censured  the  other,  whether  officer  or  soldier, 
with  a  severity  equal  to  his  deserts.  While  reviewing  our 
regiment,  he  noticed  in  the  ranks  a  very  spruce  young 
lad,  handsomely  formed,  standing  erect,  with  the  air  of  a 
genteel  soldier,  his  gun  and  equipments  in  perfect  order. 
The  baron,  struck  with  his  military  appearance,  patted  him 
under  his  chin  to  elevate  his  head  still  more  erect,  viewed 
him  with  a  smile,  and  said,  "How  long  have  you  been  a 
soldier?  You  are  one  pretty  soldier  in  miniature.  How 
old  are  you?"  "Seventeen,  sir."  "Have  you  got  a  wife?" 
Then  calling  to  the  colonel,  said,  "Colonel  Jackson,  this 
is  one  fine  soldier  in  miniature." 

The  baron  composed  a  complete  system  of  exercise  and 
discipline,  which  was  approved  by  the  commander-in- 
chief,  and  ordered  by  Congress  to  be  published  and  adopted 
in  our  army.  Colonel  William  North  and  Colonel  Walker 
were  aids-de-camp  and  members  of  his  family,  between 
whom  there  existed  a  mutual  attachment  and  affection, 
pure  as  parent  and  sons.*  The  baron  was  distinguished 

*  Colonel  North  at  an  early  age  volunteered  his  services  in  the  bold 
and  perilous  enterprise  undertaken  by  General  Arnold  in  the  autumn 
of  1775,  to  penetrate  to  Canada  through  the  unexplored  wilderness  from 
Kennebee,  and  was  among  the  miserable  sufferers  who  apprehended  the 
horrors  of  death  in  the  wilderness.  When  Colonel  Henry  Jackson 
raised  his  regiment  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  this  gentleman  was 
commissioned  as  commander  of  a  company  in  this  regiment,  in  which 
he  served  with  honor  till  he  was  appointed  aid-de-camp  to  Baron  Steu- 
ben.  By  the  amiable  qualities  of  his  heart,  his  ingratiating  and  gentle 
manly  manners,  he  won  the  affection  of  the  baron,  by  whom  he  was 
treated  with  the  favor  of  an  adopted  son.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  appointed  major-general  of  militia  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  he  has  recently  transferred  his  residence  to  New  London,  in  Con 
necticut  It  is  chiefly  by  the  aid  of  his  pen  that  I  am  enabled  to  furnish 
this  triiite  to  the  memory  of  his  justly-celebrated  patron. 


13AROX   STEUB3N. 


APPENDIX.  427 

for  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of  political  integrity 
and  moral  virtue.  His  heart  was  replete  with  generous 
sentiments  and  the  purest  benevolence. 

After  General  Arnold  treacherously  deserted  his  post 
at  West  Point,  the  baron  never  failed  to  manifest  his  in 
dignation  and  abhorrence  of  his  name  and  character,  and 
while  inspecting  Colonel  Sheldon's  regiment  of  light-horse, 
the  name  of  Arnold  struck  his  ear.  The  soldier  was  or 
dered  to  the  front:  he  was  a  fine  looking  fellow ;  his  horse 
and  equipments  in  excellent  order.  "Change  your  name, 
brother-soldier;  you  are  too  respectable  to  bear  the  name 
of  .a  traitor."  "  What  name  shall  I  take,  general?"  "Take 
any  other  name;  mine  is  at  your  service."  Most  cheer 
fully  was  the  offer  accepted,  and  his  name  was  entered  on 
the  roll  as  Steuben.  He  or  his  children  now  enjoy  land 
given  to  him  in  the  town  of  Steuben  by  the  baron.  This 
brave  soldier  met  him  after  the  war.  UI  am  well  settled, 
general,"  said  he,  "and  have  a  wife  and  son ;  I  have  called 
my  son  after  you,  sir."  "I  thank  you,  my  friend.  What 
name  have  you  given  the  boy?"  "I  called  him  Baron — 
what  else  could  I  call  him?" 

The  baron's  office  as  inspector  did  not  preclude  him  the 
privilege  of  command  in  the  line  according  to  his  rank, 
and  at  one  period  he  was  commander  of  a  separate  detach 
ment  in  Virginia,  to  oppose  the  ravages  of  the  enemy  in 
that  quarter.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  men  could 
be  procured  for  the  service;  every  man  was  considered  as 
an  acquisition.  The  baron  was  too  honest  to  suffer  an 
imposition  to  be  practised  on  the  public.  A  regiment  had 
been  collected,  and  was  paraded  on  the  point  of  inarching, 
when  a  well-looking  man  on  horseback,  and  as  it  appeared 
his  servant  on  another,  rode  up  and  informed  the  baron 
that  he  had  brought  him  a  recruit.  "I  thank  you,  sir," 
said  the  baron,  "with  all  my  heart;  you  have  arrived  in 
a  happy  moment.  Where  is  your  man,  colonel?" — for  he 
was  colonel  in  the  militia.  "Here,  sir,"  ordering  his  boy 
to  dismount.  The  baron's  countenance  changed ;  his  aids 
saw  and  feared  the  approaching  storm.  A  sergeant  was 
ordered  to  measure  the  lad,  whose  shoes  when  off  discov 
ered  something  by  which  his  stature  had  been  increased. 
The  baron,  patting  the  child's  head  with  his  hand,  trem 
bling  with  rage,  asked  him  how  old  he  was?  He  was 
28 


428  APPENDIX. 

very  young — quite  a  child.  "Sir,"  said  he  to  the  militia 
colonel,  "you  must  have  supposed  me  to  be  a  rascal." 
"Oh!  no,  baron,  I  did  not."  "Then,  sir,  I  suppose  you 
to  be  a  rascal,  an  infamous  rascal,  thus  to  attempt  to  cheat 
your  country.  Sergeant,  take  off  this  fellow's  spurs,  and 
place  him  in  the  ranks,  that  we  may  have  a  man  able  to 
serve,  instead  of  an  infant  whom  he  would  basely  have 
made  his  substitute!  Go,  my  boy;  take  the  colonel's 
spurs  and  horse  to  his  wife;  make  my  compliments,  and 
say,  her  husband  has  gone  to  fight  for  the  freedom  of  his 
country,  as  an  honest  man  should  do!"  And  instantly 
ordered,  "Platoons!  to  the  right,  wheel !  forward  march !" 
Colonel  Gaskins,  who  commanded  the  regiment,  fearing 
the  consequences,  after  marching  some  distance,  allowed 
the  man  to  escape,  who  immediately  made  application  to 
the  civil  authority  for  redress;  but  Governor  Jefferson, 
Mr.  Madison,  and  others,  not  doubting  the  purity  of  the 
baron's  motive,  and  fully  appreciating  his  honest  zeal, 
prevented  any  disagreeable  results  attending  this  high 
handed  exertion  of  military  power.  At  the  siege  of 
Yorktown  the  baron  was  in  the  trenches  at  the  head  of 
his  division,  and  received  the  first  overture  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  to  capitulate.  At  the  relieving  hour  next  morning, 
the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  approached  at  the  head  of  his 
division,  to  relieve  him.  The  baron  refused  to  quit  the 
trenches,  assigning  as  a  reason  the  etiquette  in  Europe, 
that  the  offer  to  capitulate  had  been  made  during  his  tour 
of  duty,  and  that  it  was  a  point  of  honor  of  which  he  would 
not  deprive  his  troops  to  remain  in  the  trenches  till  the 
capitulation  was  signed  or  hostilities  recommenced.  The 
dispute  was  referred  to  the  commander-in-chief,  and  the 
baron  was  permitted  to  remain  till  the  British  flag  was 
struck.  While  on  this  duty  the  baron,  perceiving  himself 
in  danger  from  a  shell  thrown  from  the. enemy,  threw 
himself  suddenly  into  the  trench-  General  Wayne,  in  the 
jeopardy  and  hurry  of  the  moment,  fell  on  him ;  the  baron, 
turning  his  eyes,  saw  it  was  his  brigadier.  [  always 
knew  you  were  brave,  general,"  said  he;  "but  I  did  not 
know  you  were  so  perfect  in  every  point  of  duty:  you 
cover  your  general's  retreat  in  the  best  manner  possible." 
"I  have  great  delight,"  says  Major  Garden,  "in  relating 
an  anecdote  which  I  received  from  General  Walter  Stew- 


APPENDIX.  429 

art;  the  truth  of  which  may  be  relied  on."  After  the 
capture  of  Yorktown,  the  superior  officers  of  the  allied 
arrny  vied  with  each  other  in  acts  of  civility  and  attention 
to  the  captive  Britons.  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  family 
were  particularly  distinguished.  Entertainments  were 
given  in  succession  by  all  the  major-generals,  with  the 
exception  of  Baron  Steuben.  He  alone  withheld  an  in 
vitation,  not  from  a  wish  to  be  particular,  nor  that  his 
heart  was  closed  to  the  attentions  due  to  misfortunes.  His 
soul  was  superior  to  prejudice;  and,  as  a  soldier,  he  ten 
derly  sympathized  in  their  fate,  while  poverty  denied  the 
means  of  displaying  that  liberality  towards  them  which 
had  been  shown  by  others.  Such  was  his  situation,  when, 
calling  on  Colonel  Stewart,  and  informing  him  of  his  in 
tention  to  entertain  the  British  commander-in-chief,  he 
requested  that  he  would  advance  him  a  sum  of  money  as 
the  price  of  his  favorite  charger.  "Tis  a  good  beast," 
said  the  baron,  "and  has  proved  a  faithlul  servant  through 
all  the  dangers  of  the  war;  but,  though  painful  to  my 
heart,  we  must  part."  Colonel  Stewart,  to  prevent  a  step 
that  he  knew  must  be  attended  with  great  loss,  and  still 
greater  inconvenience,  immediately  tendered  his  purse, 
recommending,  should  the  sum  it  contained  prove  insuffi 
cient,  the  sale  or  pledge  of  his  watch.  "My  dear  friend," 
said  the  baron,  "'tis  already  sold.  Poor  North  was  sick, 
and  wanted  necessaries.  He  is  a  brave  fellow,  and  pos 
sesses  the  best  of  hearts.  The  trifle  it  brought  is  set  apart 
for  his  use.  My  horse  must  go;  so  no  more,  I  beseech 
you,  to  turn  me  from  my  purpose.  I  am  a  major-general 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  my  private  con 
venience  must  not  be  put  in  the  scale  with  the  duty  which 
my  rank  calls  on  me  imperiously  to  perform."  A  very 
friendly  intercourse  subsisted  between  the  officers  of  the 
French  army  and  those  of  our  own,  and  dining  invitations 
could  not  always  be  reciprocated  on  our  part  for  want  of 
the  means.  "I  can  stand  it  no  longer,"  said  the  baron; 
"we  are  continually  dining  with  these  gentlemen,  and  such 
is  our  penury  that,  except  at  head-quarters,  they  receive, 
no  invitations  in  return.  "Take,"  said  he  to  one  of  his 
people,  "take  the  silver  spoons  and  forks,  and  sell  them; 
it  is  not  republican  to  eat  with  silver  forks,  and  it  is  the 
part  of  a  gentleman  to  pay  his  debts.  They  shall  have 


430  APPENDIX. 

one  good  dinner,  if  I  eat  my  soup  with  a  wooden  spoon 
for  ever  after." 

The  baron  returned  to  the  northward,  and  remained 
with  the  arrny,  continually  employed  till  the  peace  in  per 
fecting  his  discipline.  The  adroitness,  and,  above  all,  the 
silence  with  which  his  manoeuvres  were  performed,  was 
remarked  with  astonishment  by  the  officers  of  the  French 
army.  The  Marquis  de  la  Val  de  Montrnorency,  a  briga 
dier-general,  said  to  the  baron,  "I  admire  the  celerity  and 
exactitude  with  which  your  men  perform,  but  what  I  can 
not  conceive  is  the  profound  silence  with  which  they 
manoeuvre."  "  I  don't  know,  Monsieur  le  Marquis,  whence 
noise  should  proceed,  when  even  my  brigadiers  dare  not 
open  their  mouths  but  to  repeat  the  orders." 

The  French  troops  were  exceedingly  loud  in  their  evo 
lutions  and  marches,  and  Mons.  la  Val  at  all  times  louder 
than  the  rest.  On  a  subsequent  occasion,  designed  to 
show  the  high  degree  of  expertness  at  which  our  officers 
and  soldiers  had  arrived,  the  baron  was  asked  by  one  of 
the  French  generals  what  manoeuvres  he  intended  to  per 
form.  On  being  informed,  "Yes,"  replied  the  French 
chief,  "I  have  seen  particularly  the  last  you  mention  per 
formed  by  the  Prussians  in  Silesia,  but  with  a  very  complex 
addition,"  which  he  explained.  "But  you  will  recollect, 
general,  that  we  are  not  quite  Prussians."  After  his  guests 
had  retired,  the  baron  said,  "I  will  let  these  Frenchmen 
know  that  we  can  do  what  the  Prussians  can,  and  what 
their  army  cannot  do.  I  will  save  those  gentlemen  who 
have  not  been  in  Silesia  the  trouble  of  going  there;  they 
may  corne  to  Verplank's  Point  next  week  for  instruction." 
They  came,  chiefs  and  subalterns,  and  every  thing  was 
done  in  the  finest  style,  to  their  real  or  pretended  admira 
tion.  Here  General  North  indulges  his  honorable  feelings 
in  the  following  apostrophe :  "  Alas !  when  I  think  of  time 
past,  of  that  day,  and  look  to  that  eminence  on  which 
General  Washington's  marquee  was  pitched,  in  front  of 
which  stood  that  great  man,  firm  in  the  consciousness  of 
virtue,  surrounded  by  French  nobles  and  the  chiefs  of  his 
own  army;  when  I  cast  my  eyes,  then  lighted  up  with 
soldierly  ambition,  hope  and  joy,  along  that  lengthened 
line,  my  brothers  all!  endeared  by  ties  made  strong  by 
full  communion  in  many  a  miserable,  many  a  joyous  hour, 


APPENDIX. 


431 


my  heart  sinks  at  the  view!  Who,  how  few  of  all  that 
brilliant  host,  is  left;  these  few  are  tottering  on  the  con 
fines  of  the  grave !  The  baron's  tent  that  day  was  filled, 
and  more  than  filled,  with  Frenchmen.  'I  arn  glad,'  said 
he,  'to  pay  some  part  of  the  dinner  debt  we  owe  our 
allies.' "  "  On  the  eve  of  returning  to  the  northward  from 
Virginia,"  continues  General  North,  "I  was  sick,  and  un 
able  to  accompany  the  baron:  he  divided  his  purse  with 
me,  the  whole  contents  of  which  were  two  half-joes;  his 
watch  and  silver  spoons  and  forks,  brought  from  Germany, 
were  already  disposed  of.  (I  must  go,'  said  the  baron;  'I 
must  leave  you,  my  son;  but  I  leave  you  among  a  people 
where  we  have  found  the  door  of  every  house  wide  open ; 
where  the  heart  of  every  female  is  full  of  tenderness  and 
virtue.  Quit  this  deleterious  spot,  the  instant  you  are 
able;  there  is  my  sulkey,  and  here  is  half  of  what  I  have. 
God  bless  you!  I  can  no  more.'  Nor  could  he:  the  feel 
ings  of  friends  in  such  a  moment,  and  under  such  circum 
stances,  may  possibly  be  conceived,  but  not  expressed.  A 
journey  of  three  hundred  miles  was  before  him;  a  single 
piece  of  gold  in  his  purse.  Are  other  instances  necessary 
to  unfold  the  texture  of  his  heart? — how  many  have  I 
written  on  my  own!  There  is,  I  trust,  a  book  in  which 
they,  every  one  of  them,  are  entered,  to  the  credit  of  his 
account  with  Heaven." 

General  Washington  had  a  high  esteem  for  the  baron, 
and  was  fully  sensible  of  his  worth  and  merits.  On  all 
proper  occasions  Congress  were  urged  in  his  behalf,  and 
from  time  to  time  he  received  of  money,  good  and  bad, 
sums  which  some  narrow-minded  men  thought  much  too 
large,  though  he  proved  satisfactorily  that  he  had  given 
up  a  salary  of  five  hundred  and  eighty  guineas  a  year  in 
Europe.  But  what  sums — how  much — could  have  been 
enough  for  one  who  searched  around  for  worthy  objects, 
whose  wants  might  be  relieved?  "Never  did  a  review  or 
an  inspection  pass  without  rewards  in  money  to  soldiers 
whose  arms  were  in  the  highest  order.  Never  was  his 
table  unfilled  with  guests  if  furnished  with  provisions. 
Officers  of  rank,  men  most  prominent  for  knowledge  and 
attention  to  their  duty,  were  marked  for  invitation ;  but  the 
gentlemen  of  his  family  were  desired  to  complete  the  list 


432  APPENDIX. 

with  others  of  inferior  grade.  *  Poor  fellows,'  said  he,  '  they 
have  field  officers'  stomachs,  without  their  rations.'" 

The  baron  was  rough  as  the  ocean  in  a  storm  wben  great 
faults  were  committed;  but  if,  in  a  sudden  gust  of  passion, 
he  had  injured,  the  redress  was  ample.  I  recollect  that  at 
a  review  near  Morristown,  a  Lieutenant  Gibbons,  a  brave 
and  good  officer,  was  arrested  on  the  spot,  and  ordered 
into  the  rear,  for  a  fault  which  it  afterwards  appeared  an 
other  had  committed.  At  a  proper  moment,  the  com 
mander  of  the  regiment  came  forward,  and  informed  the 
baron  of  Mr.  Gibbons'  innocence,  of  his  worth,  and  of 
his  acute  feelings  under  this  unmerited  disgrace.  "Desire 
Lieutenant  Gibbons  to  come  to  the  front,  colonel."  "Sir," 
said  the  baron,  to  the  young  gentleman,  "the  fault  which 
was  made,  by  throwing  the  line  into  confusion,  might,  in 
the  presence  of  an  enemy,  have  been  fatal.  I  arrested 
you  as  its  supposed  author,  but  I  have  reason  to  believe 
that  I  was  mistaken,  and  that  in  this  instance  you  were 
blameless;  I  ask  your  pardon:  return  to  your  command; 
I  would  not  deal  unjustly  by  any,  much  less  by  one  whose 
character  as  an  officer  is  so  respectable."  All  this  passed 
with  the  baron's  hat  off,  the  rain  pouring  on  his  venerable 
head! — Do  you  think  there  was  an  officer,  a  soldier  who 
saw  it,  unmoved  by  affection  and  respect?  Not  one. 

In  the  company  of  ladies,  the  baron  always  appeared 
to  peculiar  advantage.  At  the  house  of  the  respectable 
Mrs.  Livingston,  mother  of  the  late  Chancellor,  where 
virtue,  talent,  and  modest  worth  of  every  kind  met  a  wel 
come  reception,  the  baron  was  introduced  to  a  Miss  Sheaf, 
an  amiable  and  interesting  young  lady.  "I  am  very  hap 
py,"  said  he,  "in  the  honor  of  being  presented  to  you, 
mademoiselle,  though  I  see  it  is  at  an  infinite  risk;  I  have 
from  my  youth  been  cautioned  to  guard  myself  against 
mischief,  but  I  had  no  idea  that  her  attractions  were  so 
powerful." 

Dining  at  head-quarters  with  Robert  Morris,  Esq.,  and 
other  gentlemen,  Mr.  Morris  complained  bitterly  of  the 
miserable  state  of  the  treasury.  "Why,"  said  the  baron, 
"are  you  not  financier? — why  do  you  not  continue  tc 
create  funds?"  "I  have  done  all  I  can;  it  is  not  possible 
for  me  to  do  more."  "But  you  remain  financier,  though 
without  finances?"  "Yes."  "  Well,  then,  I  do  not  think 


APPENDIX.  433 

you  are  so  honest  a  man  as  my  cook.  He  came  to  me 
one  day  at  Valley  Forge,  and  said,  'Baron,  I  am  your 
cook,  and  you  have  nothing  to  cook  but  a  piece  of  lean 
beef,  which  is  hung  up  by  a  string  before  the  fire.  Your 
negro  wagoner  can  turn  the  string  and  do  as  well  as  I  can. 
You  have  promised  me  ten  dollars  a  month ;  but  as  you 
have  nothing  to  cook,  I  wish  to  be  discharged,  and  not 
longer  be  chargeable  to  you.'  That  is  an  honest  fellow, 
Morris." 

Though  never  perfectly  master  of  our  language,  the 
baron  understood  and  spoke  it  with  sufficient  correctness. 
He  would  sometimes  on  purpose  miscall  names,  and  blend 
or  adopt  words  similar  in  sound,  dissimilar  in  meaning. 
Dining  at  head-quarters,  which  he  did  frequently,  Mrs. 
Washington  asked  what  amusement  he  had  recourse  to 
now  that  the  certainty  of  peace  had  relaxed  his  labors? 
"I  read,  my  lady,  and  write,  and  chess,  and  yesterday  for 
the  first  time  I  went  a  fishing.  My  gentlemen  told  rne  it 
was  a  very  fine  business  to  catch  fish,  and  I  did  not  know 
but  that  this  new  trade  might,  by  and  by,  be  useful  to  me 
— but  I  fear  I  never  can  succeed — I  sat  in  the  boat  three 
hours,  it  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  I  caught  only  two 
fish ;  they  told  me  it  was  fine  sport."  "  What  kind  of  fish 
did  you  take,  baron?"  "I  am  not  sure,  my  lady,  but  I 
believe  one  of  them  was  a  whale."  "  A  whale,  baron,  in 
the  North  river!"  "Yes,  I  assure  you,  a  very  fine  whale, 
my  lady; — it  was  a  whale,  was  it  not?"  appealing  to  one 
of  his  aids.  "An  eel,  baron."  "I  beg  your  pardon,  my 
lady,  but  that  gentleman  certainly  told  me  it  was  a  whale." 
General  Washington,  now  that  his  mind  was  comparatively 
at  ease,  enjoyed  a  pleasantry  of  this  kind  highly. 

For  the  proper  understanding  of  the  following  bon  mot 
of  General  Washington,  it  must  be  mentioned  that  at 
Tatawa  falls  there  was  a  miserable,  deformed  object,  -who 
had  lain  in  his  cradle  for  twenty-seven  years.  His  head 
was  eighteen  inches  in  length,  and  the  rest  of  his  body 
twenty-seven  inches.  He  received  numerous  visitors, 
among  whom  was  his  excellency,  who  asked  him  whether 
he  was  a  whig  or  tory?  He  answered,  as  he  had  been 
taught,  that  he  had  never  taken  an  active  part  on  either  side* 
"A  worthy  gentleman  and  lady  came  out  of  New  York 
*  See  page  204  of  this  volume. 


434  APPENDIX. 

after  the  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed,  to  visit  their 
friends,  and  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  Baron  Steuben, 
by  whom  the  whole  party,  together  with  his  excellency 
and  lady,  were  invited  to  dine.  'It  is  proper,'  said  the 
baron,  'that  your  excellency  should  be  apprised  that  Mr. 
-  and  his  lady  from  New  York  are  to  dine  with  me, 
and  perhaps,  sir,  you  may  not  choose  to  meet  Mr. 


'  Oh,  baron,'  said  the  general,  laughing, '  there  is  no  difficulty 
on  that  point.  Mr.  —  —  is  very  like  the  big-headed  boy  at 
Tatawa,  he  never  has  taken  an  active  part?  This  was  allowed 
to  be  a  most  adroit  coup  de  sabre  by  those  who  knew  the 
gentleman,  though  it  is  doubted  whether,  if  he  had  heard 
it,  he  would  have  felt  the  stroke." 

"  At  the  disbandment  of  the  revolutionary  army,  when 
inmates  of  the  same  tent,  or  hut,  for  seven  long  years, 
were  separating,  and  probably  for  ever;  grasping  each 
other's  hand,  in  silent  agony,  I  saw  the  baron's  strong — 
endeavors  to  throw  some  ray  of  sunshine  on  the  gloom 
to  mix  some  drop  of  cordial  with  the  painful  draught.  To 
go,  they  knew  not  whither;  all  recollection  of  the  art  to 
thrive  by  civil  occupations  lost,  or  to  the  youthful  never 
known.  Their  hard-earned  military  knowledge  worse 
than  useless,  and  with  their  badge  of  brotherhood,  a  mark 
at  which  to  point  the  finger  of  suspicion — ignoble,  vile 
suspicion! — to  be  cast  out  on  a  world,  long  since  by  them 
forgotten.  Severed  from  friends,  and  all  the  joys  and 
griefs  which  soldiers  feel!  Griefs  while  hope  remained — • 
when  shared  by  numbers,  almost  joys!  To  go  in  silence 
and  alone,  and  poor  and  hopeless;  it  was  too  hard!  On 
that  sad  day,  how  many  hearts  were  wrung!  I  saw  it 
all,  nor  will  the  scene  be  ever  blurred  or  blotted  from  my 
view.  To  a  stern  old  officer,  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  Coch- 
ran,  from  the  Green  Mountains,  who  had  met  danger  and 
difficulty  almost  in  every  step  from  his  youth,  and  from 
whose  furrowed  visage  a  tear  till  that  moment  had  never 
fallen ;  the  good  baron  said — what  could  be  said  to  lessen 
deep  distress.  'For  myself,'  said  Cochran,  'I  care  not — I 
can  stand  it;  but  my  wife  and  daughters  are  in  the  garret 
of  that  wretched  tavern.  I  know  not  where  to  remove, 
nor  have  I  means  for  their  removal!'  'Come,  my  friend,' 
said  the  baron,  'let  us  go — I  will  pay  my  respects  to  Mrs. 
Cochran  and  your  daughters,  if  you  please.'  I  followed 


APPENDIX.  435 

to  the  loft,  the  lower  rooms  being  all  filled  with  soldiers, 
with  drunkenness,  despair  and  blasphemy.  And  when  the 
baron  left  the  poor  unhappy  cast-aways,  he  left  hope  with 
them,  and  all  he  had  to  give."  "A  black  man,  with 
wounds  unhealed,  wept  on  the  wharf  (for  it  was  at  New- 
burgh  where  this  tragedy  was  acting) :  there  was  a  vessel  in 
the  stream,  bound  to  the  place  where  he  once  had  friends. 
He  had  not  a  dollar  to«pav  his  passage,  and  he  could  not 
walk.  Unused  to  tears,  I  saw  them  trickle  down  this  good 
man's  cheeks  as  he  put  into  the  hands  of  the  black  man 
the  last  dollar  he  possessed.  The  negro  hailed  the  sloop, 
and  cried,  'God  Almighty  bless  you,  master  baron!' 

"What  good  and  honorable  man,  civil  or  military,  be 
fore  the  accursed  party-spirit  murdered  friendships,  did 
not  respect  and  love  the  baron?  Who  most?  Those  who 
knew  him  best.  After  the  peace,  the  baron  retired  to  a 
farm  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  where,  with  forming  a 
system  for  the  organization  and  discipline  of  the  militia, 
books,  chess,  and  the  frequent  visits  of  his  numerous 
friends,  he  passed  his  time  as  agreeably  as  a  frequent  want 
of  funds  would  permit.  The  state  of  New  Jersey  had 
given  him  a  small  improved  farm,  and  the  state  of  New 
York  gave  him  a  tract  of  sixteen  thousand  acres  of  land 
in  the  county  of  Oneida.  After  the  general  government 
was  in  full  operation,  by  the  exertions  of  Colonel  Hamil 
ton,  patronized  and  enforced  by  President  Washington,  a 
grant  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  per  annum 
was  made  to  him  for  life.  The  summers  were  now  chiefly 
spent  on  his  land,  and  his  winters  in  the  city.  His  sixteen 
thousand  acres  of  land  were  in  the  uncultivated  wilder 
ness;  he  built  a  convenient  log  house,  cleared  sixty  acres, 
parceled  out  his  land  on  easy  terms  to  twenty  or  thirty 
tenants,  distributed  nearly  a  tenth  of  the  tract  in  gifts  to 
his  aids-de-camp  and  servants,  and  sat  himself  down  to  a 
certain  degree  contented  without  society,  except  that  of  a 
young  gentleman,  who  read  to  and  with  him.  He  ate 
only  at  dinner,  but  he  ate  with  strong  appetite.  In  drink 
ing,  he  was  always  temperate;  indeed,  he  was  free  from 
every  vicious  habit.  His  powers  of  mind  and  body  were 
strong,  and  he  received  to  a  certain  extent  a  liberal  edu 
cation.  His  days  were  undoubtedly  shortened  by  his 
sedentary  mode  of  life.  He  was  seized  with  an  apoplexy, 


436  APPENDIX. 

which  in  a  few  hours  was  fatal.  Agreeably  to  his  desire, 
often  expressed,  he  was  wrapped  in  his  cloak,  placed  in  a 
plain  coffin,  and  hid  in  the  earth,  without  a  stone  to  tell 
where  he  lies.  A  few  neighbors,  his  servants,  the  young 
gentleman  his  late  companion,  and  one  on  whom  for  fifteen 
years  his  countenance  never  ceased  to  beam  with  kindness, 
followed  to  the  grave.  It  was  in  a  thick,  a  lonely  wood; 
but,  in  a  few  years  after,  a  public  highway  was  opened 
nearer  over  the  hallowed  sod!  Colonel  Walker  snatched 
the  poor  remains  of  his  dear  friend  from  sacrilegious  vio 
lation,  and  gave  a  bounty  to  protect  the  grave  in  which 
he  laid  them  from  rude  and  impious  intrusion.  He  died 
in  1795,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

"Some  few  years  previous  to  the  baron's  death,  a  pious 
gentleman  of  the  city  of  New  York,  who  had  a  great  af 
fection  for  him,  told  me,  with  strong  marks  of  joy,  that 
they  had  passed  the  evening  and  a  part  of  the  last  night 
together;  that  the  baron  confessed  his  full  belief  in  Jesus 
Christ,  with  sure  and  certain  hope,  through  him,  of  a 
blessed  immortality.  'From  the  life  our  dear  friend  has 
led,  in  camps  and  in  the  gay  world,'  said  the  good  man, 
'I  feared;  and  you  do  not  know  what  joy  I  feel,  in  the 
belief  that  he  will  be  well  to  all  eternity !'  The  baron  was 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  German  Church,  in  New  York." 

General  North,  from  the  impulse  of  his  own  affectionate 
and  grateful  feelings,  erected  a  handsome  monument  with 
an  appropriate  inscription  in  the  .Reformed  German  Church 
in  New  York  to  the  memory  of  his  illustrious  patron  and 
friend,  and  these  pages  accord  with  the  views  of  that  me 
morial  in  transmitting  to  posterity  a  renowned  hero,  whoso 
name  and  invaluable  labors  should  never  be  forgotten. 

What  remained  of  the  baron's  estate,  excepting  one 
thousand  dollars  and  his  library,  which  he  willed  to  a 
youth  whose  father  had  rendered  essential  service  in  the 
war,  and  whose  education  he  generously  charged  him 
self  with,  was  bequeathed  to  his  two  affectionate  aids- 
de-carnp. 


APPENDIX.  437 


MARQUIS  DE  LA  FAYETTE,  MAJOR-GENERAL, 

THE  name  and  character  of  this  illustrious  French  no 
bleman,  will  occupy  a  conspicuous  place  in  our  revolu 
tionary  annals,  and  be  honored  by  posterity,  no  less  for 
his  enthusiastic  love  of  liberty,  than  for  his  heroism  and 
military  renown.  There  is  something  truly  romantic  in 
the  history  of  this  celebrated  personage.  In  the  year 
1776,  at  the  immature  age  of  nineteen,  he  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Americans,  and  nobly  resolved  to  afford  our 
country  all  possible  assistance  by  his  personal  services  and 
influence.  At  this  era  the  affairs  of  America  were  bor 
dering  on  despair,  and  were  represented  in  France  as  so 
deplorable  that  it  might  be  supposed  sufficient  to  repress 
the  most  determined  zeal.  Eeports  were  propagated  in 
that  country  that  our  army,  reduced  to  a  mere  rabble,  was 
flying  before  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  regulars,  nor  was 
this  very  wide  from  the  reality.  In  consequence  of  this, 
our  commissioners  found  it  impossible  to  procure  a  ves 
sel  to  convey  the  marquis  and  their  own  despatches  to 
Congress;  they  could  not  therefore  feel  justified  in  en 
couraging  his  bold  contemplated  enterprise.  This  embar 
rassment,  however,  had  the  effect  of  increasing  rather  than 
of  restraining  his  youthful  ardor  and  heroism.  He  im 
parted  to  the  commissioners  his  determination  to  purchase 
and  fit  out  a  vessel  to  convey  himself  and  their  despatches 
to  America.  This  project  was  deemed  so  extraordinary 
and  important,  that  it  did  not  fail  to  engage  universal  at 
tention.  The  French  court  had  not  then  declared  even  a 
friendly  intention  towards  America,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
was  extremely  cautious  of  giving  offence  to  the  British 
government.  Orders  were  therefore  given  prohibiting  the 
departure  of  this  nobleman,  and  vessels  were  even  de 
spatched  to  the  West  Indies  to  intercept  him,  in  case  he 
should  take  that  route.  The  marquis  was  well  apprised 
that  he  exposed  himself  to  the  loss  of  his  fortune  by  the 
laws  of  France;  and  that,  should  he  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  English  on  his  passage,  he  would  be  liable  to  a  con 
finement  of  uncertain  duration,  and  without  a  prospect  of 
being  exchanged.  These  considerations  however,  did  not 
deter  hirn  from  the  attempt;  and,  bidding  adieu  to  his 


438  APPENDIX. 

amiable  consort  and  numerous  endeared  connexions,  and 
trusting  to  good  fortune  to  favor  his  elopement,  he  em 
barked,  and  in  due  time  arrived  safe  in  Charleston,  in  the 
summer  of  1776.  He  landed  soon  after  the  noble  defence 
made  by  Genera]  Moultrie  at  the  fort  on  Sullivan's  island. 
Charmed  with  the  gallantry  displayed  by  that  general  and 
his  brave  troops,  the  marquis  presented  him  with  clothing, 
arms  and  accoutrements  for  one  hundred  men.  He  met 
with  a  cordial  reception  from  our  Congress,  and  they  im 
mediately  accepted  his  proffered  services.  He  insisted  that 
he  would  receive  no  compensation,  and  that  he  would 
commence  his  services  as  a  volunteer.  This  noble  phil 
anthropist  was  received  into  the  family  of  the  Commander- 
in-chief,  where  a  strong  mutual  attachment  was  contracted, 
and  he  has  often  been  -called  the  adopted  son  of  Washing 
ton.  July  31st,  1777,  Congress  resolved,  that,  "Whereas 
the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  out  of  his  great  zeal  to  the  cause 
of  liberty  in  which  the  United  States  are  engaged,  has  left 
his  family  and  connexions,  and  at  his  own  expense  come 
over  to  offer  his  services  to  the  United  States  without 
pension  or  particular  allowance,  and  is  anxious  to  risk  his 
life  in  our  cause — Resolved,  That  his  service  be  accepted, 
and  that,  in  consideration  of  his  zeal,  illustrious  family 
and  connexions,  he  have  the  rank  and  commission  of 
major-general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States." 

At  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  September,  1777,  the  mar 
quis  exhibited  full  proof  of  his  undaunted  bravery  and 
military  character,  and  received  a  wound  in  his  leg.  In 
May,  1777,  with  a  select  corps  of  two  thousand  five  hun 
dred  men,  he  crossed  the  Schuylkill,  and  took  post  about 
twelve  miles  in  front  of  our  army  at  Valley  Forge.  A 
Quaker,  in  whose  house  he  was  to  lodge,  sent  information 
to  the  enemy,  who  formed  an  instantaneous  design  of 
surprising  him.  General  Gray,  on  the  night  of  the  19th 
of  May,  marched  with  seven  thousand  men,  and  by  a 
skillful  movement  got  into  the  marquis'  rear,  while  another 
detachment  was  advancing  to  his  front.  The  marquis 
fortunately  gained  intelligence  of  their  approach,  and  by 
a  prompt  decision  effected  his  retreat,  and  recrossed  the 
river  in  season  to  defeat  the  design  of  the  enemy.  Had 
they  succeeded,  it  must  not  only  have  proved  fatal  to  the 
marquis  and  his  detachment,  but  placed  the  remainder  of 


MAJOR  GENERAL   WILLIAM   MOULTBIE. 


APPENDIX. 


439 


onr  army  in  a  situation  of  extreme  hazard.  In  August, 
1778,  the  marquis  repaired  to  Rhode  Island,  to  assist  in 
the  expedition  under  Major-General  Sullivan,  in  conjunc 
tion  with  the  French  fleet,  and  he  received  the  particular 
approbation  and  applause  of  Congress  for  his  judicious  and 
highly  important  services.  In  January,  1779,  the  marquis 
embarked  at  Boston,  on  a  voyage  to  France,  and  was  sub 
jected  to  imminent  danger  from  a  conspiracy  among  the 
sailors,  a  great  part  of  whom  were  British.  He  returned 
in  May,  1780,  bringing  the  joyful  intelligence  that  a  French 
fleet  and  army  would  soon  arrive  on  our  coast.  Through 
his  great  zeal  for  the  cause  of  the  United  States,  he  exerted 
his  influence  with  his  government,  no  longer  fearful  of 
giving  offence  to  the  English,  to  afford  money  and  troops 
and  other  important  succors.  He  was  soon  put  at  the 
hea*d  of  a  select  corps  of  light-infantry  for  the  service  of 
the  campaign.  This  afforded  him  a  new  opportunity  for 
the  display  of  his  munificence.  He  presented  to  every 
officer  under  his  command  an  elegant  sword,  and  his  sol 
diers  were  clothed  in  uniform,  principally  at  his  expense. 
He  infused  into  this  corps  a  spirit  of  pride  and  emulation, 
viewing  it  as  one  formed  and  modeled  according  to  his 
own  wishes,  and  as  deserving  his  highest  confidence.  They 
were  the  pride  of  his  heart  and  he  the  idol  of  their  regard; 
constantly  panting  for  an  opportunity  of  accomplishing 
some  signal  achievement  worthy  of  his  and  their  character. 
This  corps  was  pronounced  equal  to  any  that  could  be  pro 
duced  in  any  country.  In  December,  1780,  he  marched 
with  one  thousand  two  hundred  light-infantry  for  Virginia, 
to  counteract  the  devastations  of  Arnold  and  Phillips.  He 
made  a  forced  march  of  two  hundred  miles,  and  prevented 
General  Phillips'  possessing  himself  of  Richmond,  and  se 
cured  the  stores  of  that  place.  At  one  period  there  was 
not  a  single  pair  of  shoes  in  his  whole  command,  and  such 
was  his  zeal  and  generous  spirit,  and  such  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  people,  that  he  was  enabled  to  borrow 
of  the  merchants  of  Baltimore  two  thousand  guineas  on 
his  own  credit,  with  which  he  purchased  shoes  and  other 
necessary  articles  for  his  troops.  The  rnarquis  was  em 
ployed  in  watching  the  motions  of  Lord  Cornwallis  in 
Virginia,  with  an  inferior  force;  in  this  arduous  duty  he 
displayed  the  judgment,  skill,  and  prudence  of  a  veteran, 


440  APPENDIX. 

with  the  ardor  of  youth.  In  a  skirmish  near  Jamestown, 
not  a  man  in  the  whole  detachment  was  more  exposed, 
and  one  of  his  horses  was  killed. 

Lord  Cornwallis  having  encamped  near  Jamestown,  the 
Marquis  La  Fayette  sent  General  Wayne  with  the  Penn 
sylvania  troops  to  take  their  station  within  a  small  distance 
of  the  British  army,  and  watch  their  motions.  The  two 
advanced  parties  were  soon  engaged,  and  General  Wayne 
drove  that  of  the  enemy  back  to  their  lines;  and,  without 
stopping  there,  attacked  the  whole  British  army,  drawn 
up  in  order  of  battle,  and  charged  them  with  bayonets. 
The  action  was  extremely  severe  for  the  little  time  it 
lasted,  but  the  disproportion  of  numbers  was  so  great,  that 
the  enemy  was  on  the  point  of  surrounding  our  troops, 
when  the  marquis  arrived  in  person,  just  time  enough  to 
order  a  retreat,  by  which  they  were  rescued  from  their 
hazardous  situation,  after  suffering  considerable  loss. 

General  Henry  Lee,  in  his  Memoirs  of  the  War  in  the 
Southern  /States,  eulogizes  the  character  and  conduct  of  La 
Fayette,  when  compelled  to  fly  before  the  British  com 
mander,  in  the  following  language: 

"In  this  period  of  gloom,  of  disorder  and  of  peril,  La  Fayette  was  col 
lected  and  undismayed.  With  zeal,  with  courage,  and  with  sagacity,  he 
discharged  his  arduous  duties;  and,  throughout  his  difficult  retreat,  was 
never  brought  even  to  army  but  once  in  order  for  battle. — Invigorating 
our  councils  by  his  precepts;  dispelling  our  despondency  by  his  exam 
ple;  and  encouraging  his  troops  to  submit  to  their  many  privations,  by 
the  cheerfulness  with  which  he  participated  in  their  wants;  he  imparted 
the  energy  of  his  own  mind  to  the  country,  and  infused  his  high-toned 
spirit  into  the  army." 

Great  encomiums  were  passed  on  the  marquis  for  his 
humanity  and  goodness  in  visiting  and  administering  to 
the  relief  of  the  wounded  soldiers.  Lord  Cornwallis  hav 
ing  received  a  reinforcement,  was  so  confident  of  success 
against  his  young  antagonist,  that  he  imprudently  said  in 
a  letter  which  was  intercepted,  "the  loy  cannot  escape  me" 
He  planned  the  surprise  of  the  marquis  while  on  the  same 
side  of  James  river  with  himself;  but  in  this  he  was  baffled 
by  means  of  a  spy,  whom  the  marquis  sent  into  the  enemy's 
camp  to  obtain  some  necessary  intelligence.*  A  combina 
tion  of  talents  and  skill  defeated  all  the  energies  of  physical 
power.  During  the  siege  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown, 
*  See  page  300  of  this  volume,  for  further  particulars. 


APPENDIX.  441 

the  marquis  was  among  the  most  active  and  intrepid  of 
the  general  officers,  and  he  commanded  a  detachment  of 
our  light-infantry,  which  successfully  assaulted  the  British 
redoubt  on  the  right  of  our  lines.  Previous  to  his  de 
parture  from  Yorktown,  he  issued  his  last  orders  to  his 
favorite  corps  of  infantry,  in  which  are  contained  the  fol 
lowing  expressions: 

"In  the  moment  the  major-general  leaves  this  place,  he  wishes  once 
more  to  express  his  gratitude  to  the  brave  corps  of  light-infantry,  who 
for  nine  months  past  have  been  the  companions  of  his  fortunes.  He 
will  never  forget  that,  with  them  alone,  of  regular  troops,  he  had  the 
good  fortune  to  manoeuvre  before  an  army  which  after  all  its  reductions 
is  still  six  times  superior  to  the  regular  force  he  had  at  that  time." 

The  marquis  now  perceiving  that  the  mighty  contest 
for  American  independence,  in  which  he  had  been  so 
nobly  engaged,  was  near  its  completion,  was  about  to  re 
turn  with  the  well-earned  laurels  on  his  brow  to  his  king 
and  country.  Congress  resolved,  November  23d,  1781, 
"  that  major-general  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  be  informed 
that  on  a  review  of  his  conduct  throughout  the  past  cam 
paign,  and  particularly  during  the  period  in  which  he  had 
the  chief  command  in  Virginia,  the  many  new  proofs  which 
present  themselves  of  his  zealous  attachment  to  the  cause 
he  has  espoused,  and  of  his  judgment,  vigilance,  gallantry 
and  address  in  its  defence,  have  greatly  added  to  the  high 
opinion  entertained  by  Congress  of  his  merit  and  military 
talents."  During  his  military  career  in  America,  the  mar 
quis  displayed  that  patriotism,  integrity,  humanity,  and 
every  other  virtue  which  characterize  real  greatness  of 
soul.  His  manners  being  easy,  affable  and  engaging,  he 
was  particularly  endeared  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under 
his  command ;  they  admired,  loved,  and  revered  him  as 
their  guide  and  support  when  in  peril,  and  their  warmest 
friend  when  in  perplexity  and  trouble.  The  most  affection 
ate  attachment  subsisted  between  him  and  the  illustrious 
chief  under  whose  banners  it  was  his  delight  to  serve,  and 
whose  language  was,  "This  nobleman  unites  to  all  the  mil 
itary  fire  of  youth,  an  uncommon  maturity  of  judgment." 

His  very  soul  burned  with  the  spirit  of  enterprise,  and  he 
manifested  a  disinterestedness  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
freedom,  ever  to  be  admired  and  applauded  by  a  grateful 
people.  He  ever  discovered,  both  in  design  and  execution, 


442  APPENDIX. 

those  traits  of  genius,  and  that  intuitive  knowledge  of 
tactics,  which  designate  the  great  man  and  the  successful 
warrior.  The  people  of  the  United  States  are  fully  ap 
prised  of  their  high  obligations  to  him,  and  their  history 
will  transmit  the  name  of  La  Fayette  with  grateful  ac 
knowledgments  to  the  latest  posterity.  It  is  gratifying  to 
learn  that  Congress  granted  him  a  valuable  tract  of  land, 
as  a  compensation  in  part  for  his  disinterested  patriotism 
and  important  services. 

When  in  December,  1784,  the  marquis  was  about  to 
take  his  final  departure  from  America,  Congress  appointed 
a  committee,  consisting  of  one  member  from  each  state, 
to  receive  him,  and  in  the  name  of  Congress  to  take  leave 
of  him  in  such  manner  as  might  strongly  manifest  their 
esteem  and  regard  for  him.  That  they  be  instructed  to. 
assure  him  that  Congress  continue  to  entertain  the  same 
high  sense  of  his  abilities  and  zeal  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  America,  both  here  and  in  Europe,  which  they  have 
frequently  expressed  and  manifested  on  former  occasions. 
That  the  United  States  regard  him  with  particular  affec 
tion,  and  will  not  cease  to  feel  an  interest  in  whatever  may 
concern  his  honor  and  prosperity,  and  that  their  best  and 
kindest  wishes  will  always  attend  him.  Congress  resolved 
also  that  a  letter  be  written  to  his  Most  Christian  Majesty, 
expressive  of  the  high  sense  which  the  United  States,  in 
Congress  assembled,  entertain  of  the  zeal,  talents,  and 
meritorious  services  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  and 
recommending  him  to  the  favor  and  patronage  of  his 
majesty.  The  marquis  made  a  very  respectful  and  affec 
tionate  reply,  in  which  he  expressed  the  lively  feelings  of 
a  heart  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  our  rising  empire,  and 
gratefully  acknowledged  that,  at  a  time  when  an  inexpe 
rienced  youth,  he  was  favored  with  his  respected  friend's 
paternal  adoption.  He  thus  concludes  his  address: 

"May  this  immense  temple  of  freedom  ever  stand  as  a  lesson  to  op 
pressors,  an  example  to  the  oppressed,  a  sanctuary  for  the  rights  of 
mankind;  and  may  these  happy  United  States  attain  that  complete 
splendor  and  prosperity  which  will  illustrate  the  blessings  of  their  gov 
ernment,  and  for  ages  to  come  rejoice  the  departed  souls  of  its  founders. 
Never  can  Congress  oblige  me  so  much  as  when  they  put  it  in  rny  power 
in  every  part  of  the  world  to  the  latest  day  of  my  life  to  gratify  the 
attachment  which  will  ever  rank  me  among  the  most  zealous  and  re 
spectful  servants  of  the  United  States." 


APPENDIX.  443 


MAJOR-GENERAL   HORATIO   GATES, 

GENERAL  GATES  was  a  native  of  England,  and  was 
educated  to  the  military  profession.  He  was  an  officer 
under  the  unfortunate  Braddock,  in  the  expedition  against 
Fort  du  Quesne,  in  the  year  1755,  and  who,  after  receiving 
a  dangerous  wound,  was,  with  the  illustrious  Washington, 
among  the  few  officers  who  escaped  with  life  on  that  mem 
orable  occasion.  When  the  American  colonies  were  forced 
to  assume  a  hostile  attitude,  Gates  had  been  for  some  time 
a  resident  in  Virginia,  and  having  evinced  his  zeal  and 
attachment  to  the  violated  rights  of  his  adopted  country, 
and  sustaining  a  high  military  reputation,  he  was  by  Con 
gress  appointed  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of  brig 
adier,  and  he  accompanied  General  Washington  to  our 
camp  at  Cambridge,  in  July,1775.  On  the  retreat  of  our 
forces  from  Canada,  the  chief  command  in  that  department 
was  conferred  on  him  in  June,  1776.  He  continued  the 
retreat  of  our  army  from  Crown  Point  to  Ticonderoga, 
which  did  not  fully  accord  with  the  views  of  Congress 
arid  the  commander-in-chief.  The  British  forces  having 
retired  to  winter- quarters  in  Canada,  Gates  marched  with 
a  detachment  of  his  command,  and  joined  the  main  army 
in  Jersey,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  His  sphere  of 
action  was  not  brilliant  or  splendid,  till  his  mighty  achieve 
ment  in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga;  nor  is  he 
justly  and  exclusively  entitled  to  the  full  measure  of  ap 
plause  acquired  by  that  most  glorious  victory ;  the  mag 
nanimous  General  Schuyler,*  whom  he  superseded  in 
command,  had,  by  his  indefatigable  industry,  and  almost 
unprecedented  labors,  raised  the  most  formidable  impedi 
ments  to  the  march  of  Burgoyne,  which  tended  more  than 
is  generally  imagined  to  facilitate  the  conquest  made  by 
the  northern  army. 

*  MAJOR-GENERAL  PHILIP  SCHUYLER. — It  has  been  observed  that 
neither  history'nor  biography  has  rendered  justice  to  this  highly-meritori 
ous  character.  He  possessed  a  clear  understanding,  a  strong  mind,  a 
humane  and  generous  disposition.  No  individual  could  have  contributed 
more  largely,  by  his  vigilance  and  efficiency,  to  augment  the  obstacles  to 
the  march  of  the  British  army  to  Fort  Edward.  His  name  should  be 
enrolled  with  the  renowned  band  of  military  patriots  and  heroes,  that 
posterity  may  know  the  eminent  services  which  his  splendid  talents  con 
ferred  on  his  country. 
29 


444  APPENDIX. 

When  General  Gates  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
northern  army,  August,  1777,  Generals  Schuyler  and  St. 
Olair  were  suffering,  though  most  unjustly,  the  public 
odium  by  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga,  and  their  suc 
cessor  in  command  was  in  high  repute  and  confidence  with 
his  officers  and  soldiers.  Burgoyne's  right  wing,  under 
St.  Leger,  had  been  cut  off  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  his  left 
at  Bennington,  by  General  Stark.  Our  army  was  daily 
increasing  in  numbers,  and  considerably  exceeded  the 
strength  of  the  enerny,  and  our  troops  were  greatly  invig 
orated  with  courage,  and  determined  on  victory.  Every 
circumstance,  in  fact,  was  auspicious  to  a  successful  issue. 
Burgoyne  still  perceived  that,  in  proportion  as  he  advanced, 
obstacles  multiplied  on  every  side.  Having  at  length 
surmounted  almost  insuperable  difficulties,  he  passed  the 
Hudson,  and  advanced  to  Saratoga.  Gates  also  advanced 
to  Still  water,  and  boldly  faced  his  formidable  foe;  and  on 
the  19th  of  September  a  sanguinary  conflict  ensued.  Both 
parties  firm  and  unyielding,  both  attained  the  high  honors 
of  the  brave,  but  neither  bore  the  palm  of  a  complete 
victory  from  the  field.  While  Burgoyne's  loss  was  irre 
trievable,  the  force  and  the  ardor  of  his  antagonist  were 
continually  augmenting.  Every  day's  delay  now  increased 
the  heavy  embarrassments  of  Burgoyne,  while  time  threw 
additional  advantages  into  the  hands  of  his  spirited  oppo 
nent;  till  at  length  it  became  obvious  that  retreat  or  vic 
tory  was  his  unavoidable  alternative;  but,  on  trial,  it  was 
proved,  to  his  utter  dismay,  that  neither  resource  was  at 
his  command.  On  the  7th  of  October,  the  two  opposing 
armies  rushed  again  to  the  field  of  slaughter,  and  both 
were  satiated  with  blood  and  carnage.  The  British  army 
were  repulsed  in  every  direction,  and  its  commander  was 
led  to  the  painful  conviction  that  a  more  disastrous  fate 
awaited  him.  Burgoyne,  now  driven  to  the  brink  of  des 
pair — his  forces  disabled,  his  provisions  exhausted,  and  a 
victorious  adversary  opposing  him  in  front —  resolved  on 
a  rapid  retreat,  but  on  exploring  the  route,  behold,  his 
adversary  was  there  I 

The  dreaded  crisis  had  now  arrived,  when  a  capitulation 
was  alone  practicable.  Articles  not  very  dishonorable  to 
the  vanquished  enemy  were  acceded  to,  and  General  Gates 
enjoyed  the  ineffable  satisfaction  of  receiving  in  submission 


APPENDIX.  445 

the  once-victorious  chief.  To  the  honor  of  General  Gates, 
it  is  mentioned  that  the  captured  troops  were  directed  to  a 
sequestered  spot  to  ground  their  arms,  that  their  feelings 
might  not  be  wounded  in  the  presence  of  our  army,  though 
it  deprived  the  latter  of  a  satisfaction  in  which  they  were 
justly  entitled  to  participate.  An  interesting  narrative 
of  the  first  interview  between  the  victor  and  the  captured 
officers  is  thus  given  by  Adjutant-General  Wilkinson: 

"General  Burgoyne  proposed  to  be  introduced  to  General  Gates,  and 
we  crossed  the  Fiahkill,  and  proceeded  to  head-quarters  on  horseback, 
General  Burgoyne  in  front  with  his  Adjutant-Genera!  Kingston,  and  his 
aids-de-camp,  Captain  Lord  Petersham  and  Lieutenant  Wilford,  behind 
him;  then  followed  Major-General  Phillips,  the  Baron  Reidesel,  and  the 
other  general  officers  and  their  suites  according  to  rank.  General  Gates, 
advised  of  Burgoyne's  approach,  met  him  at  the  head  of  his  camp — Bur 
goyne  in  a  rich  royal  uniform,  and  Gates  in  a  plain  blue  frock.  When 
they  approached  nearly  within  sword's  length,  they  reined  up  and  halted. 
I  then  named  the  gentlemen,  and  General  Burgoyne,  raising  his  hat  most 
gracefully,  said,  'The  fortune  of  war,  General  Gates,  has  made  me  your 
prisoner;'  tc  which  the  conqueror,  returning  a  courtly  salute,  promptly 
replied,  'I  shall  always  be  ready  to  bear  testimony  that  it  has  not  been 
through  any  fault  of  your  excellency.'  Major-General  Phillips  then  ad 
vanced,  and  he  and  General  Gates  saluted,  and  shook  hands  with  the 
familiarity  of  old  acquaintances.  The  Baron  Reidesel  and  other  officers 
were  introduced  in  their  turn." 

General  Gates  was  remarkable  for  his  humanity  to  pris- 
oners,  and  a  desire  to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the  unfor 
tunate.  Among  the  objects  in  distress  who  claimed  his 
attention  was  Lady  Ackland,  whose  husband  was  wounded 
and  captured  during  the  battle  of  the  7th  of  October. 
General  Gates  bestowed  on  her  the  care  and  tenderness  of 
a  parent.  In  reply  to  a  letter  from  General  Burgoyne  in 
her  behalf,  he  says:  "The  respect  due  to  her  ladyship's 
rank,  the  tenderness  due  to  her  person  and  sex,  were 
sufficient  recommendations  to  entitle  her  to  my  protection. 
I  am  surprised  that  your  excellency  should  think  that  I 
could  consider  the  greatest  attention  to  Lady  Ackland  in 
the  light  'of  an  obligation."* 

General  Gates  received  the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  a 
gold  medal,  as  a  memorial  of  their  gratitude.  Great  was 
the  credit  which  he  acquired  by  this  momentous  event, 
universal  joy  pervaded  the  country,  and  all  ranks  were 
ready  to  vie  with  each  other  in  their  homage  to  the  for-' 

*  For  a  history  of  this  lady,  sec  pages  1 10  and  359. 


446 

innate  conqueror.  It  was  not  long  after,  that  the  wonder 
ful  discovery  was  supposed  to  be  made,  that  the  illustrious 
Washington  was  incompetent  to  the  task  of  conducting 
the  operations  of  the  American  arm}7,  and  that  General 
Gates,  if  elevated  to  the  important  station  of  commander- 
in -chief,  would  speedily  meliorate  the  condition  of  our 
affairs.  A  discontented  party  in  Congress,  with  a  few 
interested  individuals  in  our  army,  constituted  the  faction 
hostile  to  the  saviour  of  his  country.  General  Gates  him 
self  was  strongly  suspected  of  more  than  a  passive  acqui 
escence,  and  there  were  those  who  imputed  to  him  a 
principal  agency  in  the  affair,  which,  however,  he  promptly 
disavowed.  Had  the  project  succeeded,  it  would  in  all 
probability  have  sealed  the  ruin  of  our  army  and  sacrificed 
the  glorious  cause  of  our  country.  But  all  the  eclat  which 
General  Gates  had  acquired,  and  all  the  splendor  of  his 
name,  were  insufficient  to  proselyte  a  single  officer  to  his 
interest.  He  was  not  endowed  with  that  dignity  and  with 
those  illustrious  qualities  which  were  requisite  to  command 
the  confidence  and  reverence  of  the  army  as  the  successor 
of  the  much-beloved  Washington.  I  am  assured  by  Gov 
ernor  Brooks  that,  being  in  company  with  a  number  of 
respectable  officers  at  Valley  Forge  when  the  subject  was 
canvassed,  General  Weedon,  of  Virginia,  with  great  vehe 
mence  declared,  that  should  General  Gates  be  preferred  to 
the  chief  command,  he  never  would  serve  under  him,  but 
would  absolutely  resign  his  commission  and  quit  the  ser 
vice,  and  all  present  were  in  unison  with  him  in  opinion. 
A  private  correspondence  was  maintained  between  the 
intriguing  General  Conway  and  General  Gates,  criticising 
and  reprobating  the  measures  pursued  by  General  Wash 
ington,  and  in  one  of  Conway's  letters  he  ascribes  our 
want  of  success  to  a  weak  general  and  bad  counsellors. 
General  Gates,  on  finding  that  General  Washington  had 
been  apprised  of  this  correspondence,  addressed  his  excel 
lency,  requesting  that  he  would  disclose  the  name  of  his 
informant;  and,  extraordinary  as  it  may  appear,  in  viola 
tion  of  the  rules  of  decorum,  he  addressed  the  commander- 
in-chief  on  a  subject  of  extreme  delicacy  in  an  open  letter, 
transmitted  to  the  President  of  Congress.  His  pretence 
was,  that  some  of  the  members  of  that  body  might  aid  in 
detecting  the  person  who  made  the  communication.  Gen- 


APPENDIX.  447 

eral  Washington,  however,  made  no  hesitancy  in  disclosing 
the  name  and  the  circumstances  which  brought  the  affair 
to  light.  General  Gates  then,  with  inexcusable  disingen- 
uousness,  attempted  to  vindicate  the  conduct  of  Coriway, 
and  to  deny  that  his  letter  contained  the  reprehensible 
expressions  in  question,  but  utterly  refused  to  produce  the 
original  letter.  This  subject,  however,  was  so  ably  and 
candidly  discussed  by  General  Washington,  as  to  cover 
his  adversary  with  shame  and  humiliation,  and  he  was  glad 
to  discontinue  the  investigation.  It  was  thought  to  be 
inexcusable  in  General  Gates  that  he  neglected  to  com 
municate  to  the  commander-in-chief  an  account  of  so 
important  an  event  as  the  capture  of  the  British  army  at 
Saratoga,  but  left  his  excellency  to  obtain  information  by 
common  report.  In  November,  1777,  Congress  having 
new-modeled  the  board  of  war,  appointed  General  Gates 
the  president,  and  he  entered  on  the  duties  of  the  office, 
but  retained  his  rank  in  the  army.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  destined  to  experience,  in  a  remarkable  man 
ner,  the  humiliating  vicissitudes  of  fortune.  He  had  the 
conducting  of  the  most  prosperous  and  the  most  disastrous 
of  the  military  enterprises  in  the  war.  In  June,  1780, 
General  Gates  was  by  Congress  vested  with  the  chief  com 
mand  of  our  army  in  the  Southern  States.  In  a  general 
battle  at  Camden,*  August  loth,  being  the  first  and  only 
encounter  which  he  had  with  Lord  Cornwallis,  he  suffered 
a  total  defeat,  and  was  obliged  to  fly  from  the  enemy  for 
personal  safety;  and  thus  was  the  prediction  of  General 
Lee,  when  Gates  was  vested  with  the  command,  that  his 
Northern  laurels  would  be  exchanged  for  Southern  willoius, 
verified.  It  would,  however,  be  great  injustice  to  attribute 
the  misfortune  altogether  to  the  commander,  under  his 
peculiar  circumstances;  a  large  proportion  of  his  force 
consisted  of  raw  militia,  who  were  panic-struck,  and  fled 
at  the  first  fire;  their  rout  was  absolute  and  irretrievable. 
It  may  be  observed,  nevertheless,  that  Eis  conduct  in  some 

*  In  the  disastrous  battle  at  Camden,  the  Baron  de  Kalb,  a  brave  and 
experienced  Prussian  officer,  and  major-general  in  our  service,  was  unfor 
tunately  slain.  It  was  said  that  this  heroic  officer  cautioned  General 
Gates  against  a  general  action,  under  present  circumstances.  His  exit 
was  marked  with  unfading  glory,  and  his  distinguished  merit  was  gratefully 
acknowledged  by  Congress,  in  erecting  a  monument  to  his  memory. 


448  APPENDIX. 

respects  on  this  occasion  did  not  meet  the  approbation  of 
those  who  must  be  admitted  as  competent  judges  of  the 
military  operations  of  that  fatal  day.  Proudly  calculating 
on  the  weight  of  his  name,  and  too  confident  in  his  own 
superiority,  he  slighted  the  counsel  which  he  ought  to 
have  respected;  and  hurrying  impetuously  into  the  field 
of  battle,  his  tide  of  prosperity  ebbed  as  fast  at  Camden  as 
it  hnd  flowed  at  Saratoga. 

The  plot  to  supplant  General  Washington  is  established 
beyond  question,  and  it  will  be  only  sufficient  to  quote 
the  following  extracts  from  the  letters  of  the  two  purest 
patriots  and  men  that  have  ever  lived,  to  satisfy  of  its 
truth  those  who  are  not  familiar  with  the  events  of  that 
period.  Patrick  Henry,  writing  on  the  subject  to  General 
AVashington,  says: 

"While  you  face  the  armed  enemies  of  our  liberty  in  the  field,  and,  by 
the  favor  of  God,  have  been  kept  unhurt,  I  trust  your  country  will  never 
harbor  in  her  bosom  the  miscreant  who  would  ruin  her  best  supporter. 
I  wish  not  to  flatter;  but  when  arts  unworthy  honest  men  are  used  to 
defame  and  traduce  you,  I  think  it  not  amiss,  but  a  duty,  to  assure  you 
of  that  estimation  in  which  the  public  hold  you.  Not  that  I  think  any 
testimony  I  can  bear  is  necessary  for  your  support  or  private  satisfaction, 
for  a  bare  recollection  of  what  is  past  must  give  you  sufficient  pleasure 
in  every  circumstance  of  life.  But  I  cannot  help  assuring  you,  on  this 
occasion,  of  the  high  sense  of  gratitude  which  all  ranks  of  men,  in  this 
your  native  county,  bear  to  you.  It  will  give  me  sincere  pleasure  to 
manifest  my  regards,  and  render  my  best  services  to  you  or  yours.  I 
do  not  like  to  make  a  parade  of  these  things,  and  I  know  you  are  not 
fond  of  it;  howrever,  I  hope  the  occasion  will  plead  my  excuse." 

To  which  General  Washington  replies: 

"The  anonymous  letter  with  which  you  were  pleased  to  favor  me 
was  written  by  ************.  so  far  as  I  can  judge  from  a 
similitude  of  hands.  ******* 

"My  caution  to  avoid  any  thing  that  could  injure  the  service  pre 
vented  me  from  communicating,  except  to  a  very  few  of  my  friends,  the 
intrigues  of  a  faction  which  I  know  was  formed  against  me,  since  it 
might  serve  to  publish  our  internal  dissensions;  but  their  own  rest  Jess 
zeal  to  advance  their  views  has  too  clearly  betrayed  them,  and  made 
concealment  on  my  part  fruitless.  I  cannot  precisely  mark  the  extent 
of  their  views,  but  it  appeared  in  general  that  General  Gates  was  to  be 
exalted  on  the  ruin  of  my  reputation  and  influence.  This  I  am  author 
ized  to  say  from  undeniable  facts  in  my  possession,  from  publications, 
the  evident  scope  of  which  could  not  be  mistaken,  and  from  private  de 
tractions  industriously  circulated.  *••*****»*•*»,  it  i§ 
generally  supposed,  bore  the  second  part  in  the  cabal;  and  General 


1'ATJMCK    11ENHV. 


APPENDIX.  449 

Conway,  I  know,  was  a  very  active  and  malignant  partizan;  but  I  have 
good  reason  to  believe  that  their  machinations  have  recoiled  most  sensi 
bly  on  themselves." 

Yet,  in  the  face  of  the  evidence  of  the  fact,  General 
Armstrong  recently  avows  that  ".the  slander  propagated 
and  believed  for  half  a  century,  that  two  distinguished 
officers  of  the  army  of  the  revolution  had  conspired  to  put 
down  the  commander-in-chief,  is  an  impudent  and  vile 
falsehood  from  beginning  to  end" 

General  Gates  was  displaced  from  his  command  by 
order  of  Congress,  and  his  conduct  subjected  to  the  in 
quiry  of  a  special  court,  which  resulted  in  his  acquittal, 
but  his  Saratoga  laurels  had  faded,  and  he  was  unable  to 
retrieve  his  suffering  fame. 

"It  was  the  general  opinion  that  General  Gates  was 
not  treated  by  Congress  with  that  delicacy,  or  indeed 
gratitude,  that  was  due  to  an  officer  of  his  acknowledged 
merit.  He,  however,  received  the  order  of  his  super- 
sedure  and  suspension,  and  resigned  the  command  to 
General  Greene  with  becoming  dignity."  General  Greene 
asserted  that  if  there  was  any  mistake  in  the  conduct  of 
Gates,  it  was  in  hazarding  an  action  at  all  against  such 
superior  force. 

He  was  reinstated  in  his  military  command  in  the  main 
army  in  1782,  but  the  great  scenes  of  war  were  now  passed, 
and  he  could  only  participate  in  the  painful  scene  of  a 
final  separation. 

In  the  midst  of  his  misfortune  General  Gates  was  called 
to  mourn  the  afflictive  dispensation  of  Providence  in  the 
death  of  his  only  son.  Major  Garden,  in  his  excellent 
publication,  has  recorded  the  following  affecting  anecdote, 
which  he  received  from  Dr.  William  Reed: 

"Having  occasion  to  call  on  General  Gates,  relative  to  the  business  of 
the  department  under  my  immediate  charge,  I  found  him  traversing  the 
apartment  which  he  occupied,  under  the  influence  of  high  excitement; 
his  agitation  was  excessive — every  feature  of  his  countenance,  every 
gesture  betrayed  it.  Official  despatches,  informing  him  that  he  was 
superseded,  and  that  the  command  of  the  Southern  army  had  been  trans 
ferred  to  General  Greene,  h;id  just  been  received  and  perused  by  him. 
His  countenance,  however,  betrayed  no  expression  of  irritation  or  re 
sentment;  it  was  sensibility  alone  that  caused  his  emotion.  An  open 
letter,  which  he  held  in  his  hand,  was  often  raised  to  his  lips,  and  kissed 
with  devotion,  while  the  exclamation  repeatedly  escaped  them,  'Great 
man!  Noble,  generous  procedure !'  When  the  tumult  of  his  mind  had 


450  APPENDIX. 

subsided,  and  his  thoughts  found  utterance,  he,  with  strong  expression 
of  feeling,  exclaimed, '1  have  received  this  day  a  communication  from 
the  eommander-in-chief,  which  has  conveyed  more  consolation  to  my 
bosom,  more  ineffable  delight  to  my  heart,  than  I  had  believed  it  possi 
ble  for  it  ever  to  have  felt  again.  With  affectionate  tenderness  he  sym 
pathizes  with  me  in  my  domestic  misfortunes,  and  condoles  with  me  on 
the  loss  I  have  sustained  by  the  recent  death  of  an  only  son;  and  then 
with  peculiar  delicacy,  lamenting  my  misfortune  in  battle,  assures  me 
that  his  confidence  in  my  zeal  and  capacity  is  so  little  impaired,  that  the 
command  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army  will  be  bestowed  on  me  so 
Boon  as  I  can  make  it  convenient  to  join  him.'" 

When  the  revolution  was  completed,  General  Gates  re 
tired  to  his  plantation  in  Virginia,  where  he  continued 
about  seven  years,  when  he  with  his  wife  took  up  his  final 
residence  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York.  In  civil  life 
General  Gates  was  a  zealous  partizan,  but  he  was  always 
disappointed  in  his  ambitious  views.  In  1800,  he  was 
elected  to  the  New  York  legislature  to  answer  the  purpose 
of  a  party,  and  withdrew  again  to  private  life  as  soon  as 
that  purpose  was  answered.  During  the  federal  adminis 
tration  of  the  general  government,  he  was  found  in  the 
ranks  of  the  opposite  or  minor  party,  which  excluded  him 
altogether  from  a  share  of  the  honors  and  emoluments 
which  it  was  in  the  power  of  his  former  illustrious  military 
leader  to  bestow.  "A  few  years  before  his  death  he  gen 
erously  gave  freedom  to  his  slaves,  making  provision  for 
the  old  and  infirm,  while  several  testified  their  attachment 
to  him  by  remaining  in  his  family.  In  the  characteristic 
virtue  of  planters'  hospitality,  Gates  had  no  competitor, 
and  his  reputation  may  well  be  supposed  to  put  this  virtue 
to  a  hard  test."  "He  had  a  handsome  person,  and  was 
gentlemanly  in  his  manners,  remarkably  courteous  to  all, 
and  carrying  good-humor  sometimes  beyond  the  nice  limit 
of  dignity.  To  science,  literature  or  erudition,  however, 
he  made  no  pretensions,  but  gave  indisputable  marks  of  a 
social,  amiable,  benevolent  disposition.  He  died  without 
posterity  at  his  abode  near  New  York,  on  the  10th  day 
of  April,  1806,  aged  seventy-eight  years." 


APPENDIX. 


BRIGADIER- GENERAL  JOHN   STARR, 

GENERAL  STARK  was  a  native  of  Londonderry,  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  born  August  17th,  1728.  When  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  he  was,  while  on  a  hunting 
excursion,  surprised  and  captured  by  the  Indians,  and 
remained  four  months  a  prisoner  in  their  hands.  He  was 
captain  of  a  company  of  rangers  in  the  provincial  service 
during  the  French  war  of  1755,  and  was  with  the  British 
general,  Lord  Howe,  when  he  was  killed  in  the  storming 
the  French  lines  at  Ticonderoga,  in  July,  1758.  At  the 
close  of  that  war  he  retired,  with  the  reputation  of  a  brave 
and  vigilant  officer.  When  the  report  of  Lexington  battle 
reached  him,  he  was  engaged  at  work  in  his  saw-mill. 
Fired  with  indignation  and  a  martial  spirit,  he  immediately 
seized  his  musket,  and  with  a  band  of  heroes  proceeded 
to  Cambridge.  The  morning  after  his  arrival,  he  received 
a  colonel's  commission;  and  availing  himself  of  his  own 
popularity,  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  day,  in  two  hours 
he  enlisted  eight  hundred  men!  On  the  memorable  17th 
of  June,  at  Breed's-hill,  Colonel  Stark,  at  the  head  of  his 
back-woodsmen  of  New  Hampshire,  poured  on  the  enemy 
that  deadly  fire,  from  a  sure  aim,  which  effected  such  re 
markable  destruction  in  their  ranks,  and  compelled  them 
twice  to  retreat.  During  the  whole  of  this  dreadful  con 
flict,  Colonel  Stark  evinced  that  consummate  bravery  and 
intrepid  zeal  which  entitle  his  name  to  honor  and  perpe 
tual  remembrance  in  the  pages  of  our  history.  After  the 
British  evacuated  Boston,  Colonel  Stark  joined  our  north 
ern  army  while  retreating  from  Canada,  and  he  had  the 
command  of  a  party  of  troops  who  were  employed  in  for 
tifying  the  post  of  Mount  Independence.  We  next  find 
him  at  Trenton,  in  December,  1776,  where  he  shared  largely 
in  the  honors  of  that  ever-memorable  battle  under  Wash 
ington,  when  the  Hessians  were  captured.  But  Stark 
reached  the  climax  of  his  fame  when,  in  one  of  the  darkest 
and  most  desponding  periods  of  the  American  war,  he 
achieved  a  glorious  victory  over  the  enemy  at  Bennington. 
General  Burgoyne,  after  possessing  himself  of  Ticonderoga 
in  July,  1776,  and  while  advancing  at  the  head  of  his 
victorious  army  towards  Albany,  conceived  the  design  of 


452  APPENDIX. 

taking  by  surprise  a  quantity  of  stores  which  our  people 
had  deposited  at  Bennington.  For  this  enterprise  he  des 
patched  a  German  officer,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Baum,  with 
one  thousand  five  hundred  soldiers  and  one  hundred 
Indians,  with  two  field-pieces.  Stark  was  at  that  time 
brigadier-general  of  militia,  and  was  in  the  vicinity  with 
about  one  thousand  four  hundred  brave  men  from  New 
Hampshire.  He  advanced  towards  the  enemy,  and  drew 
up  his  men  in  a  line  of  battle.  Colonel  Baum,  deeming 
it  imprudent  to  engage  with  his  present  force,  halted  his 
troops,  and  sent  an  express  to  Burgoyne  for  a  reinforce 
ment,  and  in  the  mean  time  entrenched  and  rendered  him 
self  as  defensible  as  possible. 

General  Burgoyne  immediately  despatched  Colonel  Brey- 
man,  with  about  one  thousand  troops,  to  reinforce  Colonel 
Baum ;  but  a  heavy  rain  and  bad  roads  prevented  his  arrival 
in  season.  General  Stark,  on  the  16tli  of  August,  planned 
his  mode  of  attack,  and  a  most  severe  action  ensued,  which 
continued  about  two  hours,  with  an  incessant  firing  of 
musketry  and  the  enemy's  field-artillery.  Colonel  Baum 
defended  himself  with  great  bravery  till  he  received  a  mor 
tal  wound,  and  his  whole  party  was  defeated.  It  was  not 
long  after,  that  Colonel  Breyman  appeared  with  his  rein 
forcement,  and  another  battle  ensued,  which  continued 
obstinate  on  both  sides  till  sunset,  when  the  Germans 
yielded,  and  the  victory  on  our  side  was  complete,  the 
trophies  of  which  were  four  brass  field-pieces  and  more  th4an 
seven  hundred  prisoners.  For  a  more  particular  detail  of 
this  enterprise,  see  page  93  of  this  volume.  Congress,  on 
the  4th  of  October  following,  passed  a  resolve  of  thanks 
to  General  Stark,  and  the  officers  and  troops  under  his 
command,  for  their  brave  and  successful  attack  and  signal 
victory,  and  that  Brigadier  Stark  be  appointed  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  General  Stark 
volunteered  his  services  under  General  Gates  at  Saratoga, 
and  assisted  in  the  council  which  stipulated  the  surrender 
of  General  Burgoyne,  nor  did  he  relinquish  his  valuable 
services  till  he  could  greet  his  native  country  as  an  Inde 
pendent  Empire.  General  Stark  was  of  the  middle  stature, 
not  formed  by  nature  to  exhibit  an  erect,  soldierly  mien. 
His  manners  were  frank  and  unassuming,  but  he  manifested 
a  peculiar  sort  of  eccentricity  and  negligence,  which  pre- 


APPENDIX.  453 

eluded  all  display  of  personal  dignity,  and  seemed  to  place 
him  among  those  of  ordinary  rank  in  life.  But,  as  a  cour 
ageous  and  heroic  soldier,  he  is  entitled  to  high  rank  among 
those  who  have  been  crowned  with  unfading  laurels,  and 
to  whom  a  large  share  of  glory  is  justly  due.  His  char 
acter  as  a  private  citizen  was  unblemished,  and  he  was 
ever  held  in  respect.  For  the  last  few  years  of  his  life, 
he  enjoyed  a  pecuniary  bounty  from  the  government.  He 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years,  eight 
months  and  twenty-four  days,  and  died  May  8th,  1822. 


MAJOR- GENERAL  JOHN   SULLIVAN. 

GENERAL  SULLIVAN  has  a  claim  to  honorable  distinc 
tion  among  the  general  officers  of  the  American  army. 
Before  the  revolution,  he  had  attained  to  eminence  in  the 
profession  of  the  law  in  New  Hampshire.  But  indulging 
a  laudable  ambition  for  military  glory,  he  relinquished  the 
fairest  prospects  of  fortune  and  fame,  and,  on  the  com 
mencement  of  hostilities,  appeared  among  the  most  ardent 
patriots  and  intrepid  warriors.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
first  Congress,  in  177-i;  but,  preferring  a  military  commis 
sion,  he  was  in  1775  appointed  a  brigadier-general  of  the 
American  army,  then  at  Cambridge,  and  soon  obtained  the 
command  on  Winter-lull.  The  next  year  he  was  ordered 
to  Canada,  and,  on  the  death  of  General  Thomas,  the  com 
mand  of  the  arrny  devolved  on  him.  The  situation  of 
our  army  in  that  quarter  was  inexpressibly  distressing, 
destitute  of  clothing,  dispirited  by  defeat  and  constant 
fatigue,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  troops  sick  with  the 
small-pox,  which  was  attended  by  an  unprecedented  mor 
tality.  By  his  great  exertions  and  judicious  management 
he  meliorated  the  condition  of  the  army,  and  obtained 
general  applause.  On  his  retiring  from  that  command, 
July  12,  1776,  the  field-officers  thus  addressed  him:  "It  is 
to  you,  sir,  the  public  are  indebted  for  the  preservation 
of  their  property  in  Canada;  it  is  to  you  we  owe  our  safety 
thus  far.  Your  humanity  will  call  forth  the  silent  tear 
and  the  grateful  ejaculation  of  the  sick.  Your  universal 
impartiality  will  force  the  applause  of  the  wearied  soldier." 
In  August,  1776,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major- 


454  APPENDIX. 

general,  and  soon  after  was,  with  Major-General  Lord  Stir 
ling,  captured  by  the  British  in  the  battle  on  Long  Island. 
General  Sullivan  being  paroled,  was  sent  by  General  Howe 
with  a  message  to  Congress;  after  which,  he  returned  to 
New  York.  In  September  he  was  exchanged  for  Major- 
General  Prescott.  We  next  find  him  in  command  of  the 
right  division  of  our  troops,  in  the  famous  battle  at  Tren 
ton,  and  he  acquitted  himself  honorably  on  that  ever- 
memorable  day 

In  August,  1777,  without  the  authority  of  Congress 
or  the  Commander-in-chief,  he  planned  and  executed  an 
expedition  against  the  enemy  on  Staten  Island.  Though 
the  enterprise  was  conducted  with  prudence  and  success 
in  part,  it  was  said  by  some  to  be  less  brilliant  than  might 
have  been  expected,  under  his  favorable  circumstances; 
and  as  that  act  was  deemed  a  bold  assumption  of  respon 
sibility,  and  reports  to  his  prejudice  being  in  circulation,  a 
court  of  inquiry  was  ordered  to  investigate  his  conduct. 
The  result  was  an  honorable  acquittal.  Congress  resolved 
that  the  result  so  honorable  to  General  Sullivan  is  highly 
pleasing  to  Congress,  and  that  the  opinion  of  the  court  be 
published,  in  justification  of  that  injured  officer.  In  the 
battles  at  Brandy  wine  and  at  German  town,  in  the  autumn 
of  1777,  General  Sullivan  commanded  a  division,  and  in 
the  latter  conflict  his  two  aids  were  killed,  and  his  own 
conduct  was  so  conspicuously  brave,  that  General  Wash 
ington  in  his  letter  to  Congress  concludes  with  encomiums 
on  the  gallantry  of  General  Sullivan,  and  the  whole  right 
wing  of  the  army  who  acted  immediately  under  the  eye 
of  his  excellency.  In  August,  1778,  General  Sullivan 
was  sole  commander  of  an  expedition  to  the  island  of  New 
port,  in  cooperation  with  the  French  fleet  under  the  Count 
D'Estaing.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  General  Greene 
volunteered  their  services  on  the  occasion.  The  object  of 
the  expedition  was  defeated,  in  consequence  of  the  French 
fleet  being  driven  off  by  a  violent  storm.  By  this  unfor 
tunate  event  the  enemy  were  encouraged  to  engage  our 
army  in  battle,  in  which  they  suffered  a  repulse,  and  Gen 
eral  Sullivan  finally  effected  a  safe  retreat  to  the  main.  This 
retreat,  so  ably  executed,  without  confusion,  the  loss  of  bag 
gage  or  stores,  increased  the  military  reputation  of  General 
Sullivan,  and  redounds  to  his  honor  as  a  skilful  commander. 


•  APPENDIX.  455 

The  bloody  tragedy  acted  at  Wyoming,  in  1778,  had 
determined  the  commander-in-chief,  in  1779,  to  employ  a 
large  detachment  from  the  continental  army  to  penetrate 
into  the  heart  of  the  Indian  country,  to  chastise  the  hostile 
tribes  and  their  white  associates  and  adherents,  for  their 
cruel  aggressions  on  the  defenceless  inhabitants.  The 
command  of  this  expedition  was  committed  to  Major-Gen 
eral  Sullivan,  with  express  orders  to  destroy  their  set 
tlements,  to  ruin  their  crops,  and  make  such  thorough 
devastations  as  to  render  the  country  entirely  uninhabit 
able  for  the  present,  and  thus  to  compel  the  savages  to 
remove  to  a  greater  distance  from  our  frontiers.  General 
Sullivan  had  under  his  command  several  brigadiers  and 
a  well-chosen  army,  to  which  were  attached  a  number  of 
friendly  Indian  warriors.  With  this  force  he  penetrated 
about  ninety  miles  through  a  horrid,  swampy  wilderness 
and  barren  mountainous  deserts,  to  Wyoming,  on  the 
Susquehannah  river,  thence  by  water  to  Tioga,  and  pos 
sessed  himself  of  numerous  towns  and  villages  of  the 
savages.  During  this  hazardous  expedition,  General  Sul 
livan  and  his  army  encountered  the  most  complicated 
obstacles,  requiring  the  greatest  fortitude  and  persever 
ance  to  surmount.  He  explored  an  extensive  tract  of 
country,  and  strictly  executed  the  severe  but  necessary 
orders  he  had  received.  A  considerable  number  of  Indians 
were  slain,  some  were  captured,  their  habitations  were 
burned,  and  their  plantations  of  corn  and  vegetables  laid 
waste  in  the  most  effectual  manner.  "Eighteen  villages, 
a  number  of  detached  buildings,  one  hundred  arid  sixty 
thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and  those  fruits  and  vegetables 
which  conduce  to  the  comfort  and  subsistence  of  man, 
were  utterly  destroyed.  Five  weeks  were  unremittingly 
employed  in  this  work  of  devastation."  On  his  return 
from  the  expedition,  he  and  his  army  received  the  appro 
bation  of  Congress.  It  is  remarked  on  this  expedition  by 
the  translator  of  M.  Chastelleux's  Travels,  an  Englishman 
then  resident  in  the  United  States,  that  the  instructions 
given  by  General  Sullivan  to  his  officers,  the  order  of 
inarch  he  prescribed  to  his  troops,  and  the  discipline  he 
had  the  ability  to  maintain,  would  have  done  honor  to  the 
most  experienced  ancient  or  modern  generals.  At  the 
close  of  the  campaign  of  1779,  General  Sullivan,  in  conse- 


456  APPENDIX. 

quence  of  impaired  health,  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
army.  Congress,  in  accepting  of  his  resignation,  passed  a 
resolve,  thanking  him  for  his  past  services.  His  military 
talents  arid  bold  spirit  of  enterprise,  were  universally  ac 
knowledged.  He  was  fond  of  display,  and  his  personal 
appearance  and  dignified  deportment  commanded  respect. 
Alter  his  resignation,  he  resumed  his  professional  pursuits 
at  the  bar,  and  was  much  distinguished  as  a  statesman, 
politician,  and  patriot.  He  acquired  very  considerable 
proficiency  in  general  literature,  and  an  extensive  knowl 
edge  of  men  and  the  world.  He  received  from  Harvard 
University  a  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  and  from  the 
University  of  Dartmouth  a  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 
He  was  one  of  the  convention  that  formed  the  state  con 
stitution  for  New  Hampshire,  was  chosen  into  the  first 
council,  and  was  afterwards  elected  chief  magistrate  in  that 
state,  and  held  the  office  for  three  years.  In  September, 
1789,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  District  court  for  the 
District  of  New  Hampshire,  and  continued  in  the  office 
till  his  death,  in  1795. 


MAJOR-GENERAL    THOMAS    CONWAY, 

Knight  of  the  Order  of  St.  Louis. 

THIS  gentleman  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  went  with  his 
parents  to  France,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  was  from 
his  youth  educated  to  the  profession  of  arms.  He  had 
obtained  considerable  reputation  as  a  military  officer  and 
as  a  man  of  sound  understanding  and  judgment.  He  ar 
rived  from  France  with  ample  recommendations,  and  Con 
gress  appointed  him  a  brigadier-general  in  May,  1777. 
He  soon  became  conspicuously  inimical  to  General  Wash 
ington,  and  sought  occasions  to  traduce  his  character.  In 
this  he  found  support  from  a  faction  in  Congress,  who 
were  desirous  that  the  com mander-in-chief  should  be  super 
seded.  The  Congress  not  long  after  elected  General  Con- 
way  to  the  office  of  inspector-general  to  our  army,  with 
the  rank  of  major-general,  though  he  had  insulted  the 
commander-in-chief,  and  justified  himself  in  doing  so. 
This  gave  umbrage  to  the  brigadiers  over  whom  he  was 


APPENDIX.  457 

promoted,  and  they  remonstrated  to  Congress  against  the 
proceeding,  as  implicating  their  honor  and  character. 
Conway,  now  smarting  under  the  imputation  of  having 
instigated  a  hostile  faction  against  the  illustrious  Wash 
ington,  and  being  extremely  unpopular  among  the  officers 
in  general,  and  finding  his  situation  did  not  accord  with 
his  feelings  and  views,  resigned  his  commission,  without 
having  commenced  the  duties  of  inspector.  He  was  be 
lieved  to  be  an  unprincipled  intriguer,  and  after  his 
resignation,  his  calumny  and  detraction  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  and  the  army  generally,  was  exercised  with  unre 
strained  virulence  and  outrage. 

No  man  was  more  zealously  engaged  in  the  scheme  of 
elevating  General  Gates  to  the  station  of  commander-in- 
chief.  His  vile  insinuations  and  direct  assertions  in  the 
public  newspapers  and  in  private  conversation,  relative  to 
the  incapacity  of  Washington  to  conduct  the  operations 
of  the  army,  received  countenance  from  several  members 
of  Congress,  who  were  induced  to  declare  their  want  of 
confidence  in  him,  and  the  affair  assumed  an  aspect  threat 
ening  the  most  disastrous  consequences.  Conway  main 
tained  a  correspondence  with  General  Gates  on  the  subject, 
and  in  one  of  his  letters  he  thus  expresses  himself:  "  Heaven 
has  been  determined  to  save  your  country,  or  a  weak  gen 
eral  and  bad  counsellors  would  have  ruined  it."  He  was 
himself  at  that  time  one  of  the  counsellors,  against  whom 
he  so  basely  inveighs.  Envy  and  malice  ever  are  attend 
ant  on  exalted  genius  and  merit.  But  the  delusion  was 
of  short  continuance;  the  name  of  Washington  proved 
unassailable,  and  the  base  intrigue  of  Conway  recoiled 
with  bitterness  on  his  own  head.  General  Cadwallader,  of 
Pennsylvania,  indignant  at  the  attempt  to  vilify  the  char- 
.acter  of  Washington,  resolved  to  avenge  himself  on  the 
aggressor,  in  personal  combat.  In  Major  Garden's  Anec 
dotes  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  &c.,  we  have  the  following 
detailed  particulars  of  the  duel: 

"The  parties  having  declared  themselves  ready,  the  word  was  given 
to  proceed.  General  Conway  immediately  raised  his  pistol,  and  fired 
with  great  composure,  but  without  effect.  General  Cadwallader  was 
about  to  do  so,  when  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  occurring,  he  kept  his  pis 
tol  down,  and  remained  tranquil.  'Why  do  you  not  fire,  General  Cad 
wallader?'  exclaimed  Conway.  'Because,' replied  General  Cadwallader 
'we  came  not  here  to  trifle.  Let  the  gale  prss,  and  I  shall  act  my  part 


458  APPENDIX. 

'You  shall  have  a  fair  chance  of  performing  it  well,'  rejoined  Conway,  and 
immediately  presented  a  full  front.  General  Cadwallader  fired,  and  his 
ball  entered  the  mouth  of  his  antagonist;  he  fell  directly  forward  on  his 
face.  Colonel  Morgan,  running  to  his  assistance,  found  the  blood  spout 
ing  from  behind  his  neck,  and,  lifting  up  the  club  of  his  hair,  saw  the  ball 
drop  from  it.  It  had  passed  through  his  head,  greatly  to  the  derange 
ment  of  his  tongue  and  teeth,  but  did  not  inflict  a  mortal  wound.  As 
soon  as  the  blood  was  sufficiently  washed  away  to  allow  him  to  speak, 
General  Conway,  turning  to  his  opponent,  said,  good-humored ly,  'You 
fire,  general,  with  much  deliberation,  and  certainly  with  a  great  deal  of 
effect,'  The  calls  of  honor  being  satisfied,  all  animosity  subsided,  and 
they  parted,  free  from  all  resentment." 

General  Conway,  conceiving  his  wound  to  be  mortal, 
and  believing  death  to  be  near,  acted  honorably,  in  ad 
dressing  to  General  Washington,  whom  he  had  perfidi 
ously  slandered,  the  following  letter  of  apology: 

"PHILADELPHIA,  February  23(7,  1778. 

"Sin:  I  find  myself  just  able  to  hold  my  pen  during  a  few  minutes, 
and  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  my.sincere  grief  for  having  done, 
written,  or  said  any  thing  disagreeable  to  your  excellency.  My  career 
will  soon  be  over;  therefore  justice  and  truth  prompt  me  to  declare  my 
last  sentiments.  You  are  in  my  eyes  the  great  and  good  man.  May 
you  long  enjoy  the  love,  esteem  and  veneration  of  these  states,  whose 
liberties  you  have  asserted,  by  your  virtues! 
"I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect, 

"Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"THS.  CONWAY." 


MAJOR-GENERAL    CHARLES    LEE. 

GENERAL  LEE  was  an  original  genius,  and  one  of  the 
most  eccentric  and  extraordinary  characters  of  the  age. 
His  brilliant  talents,  military  prowess,  and  extensive  intel 
ligence,  would  have  entitled  him  to  preeminence  in  the 
days  of  chivalry.  He  could  dignify  with  honor  an  ele 
vated  station,  and  it  was  not  difficult  for  him  to  degrade 
his  rank  by  indulging  in  a  malignant,  sordid  passion  for 
personal  satire  and  invective.  From  the  qualities  and 
manners  of  a  gentleman,  he  could  descend  to  the  level  of 
a  querulous  clown.  The  profession  of  arms  was  his  de 
light  from  infancy,  and  he  was  commissioned  at  the  early 
age  of  eleven  years.  In  the  year  1762,  he  bore  a  colonel's 
commission,  and  served  under  General  Burgoyne  in  Por 
tugal,  where  he  signalized  himself  by  his  martial  skill  and 


APPENDIX.  459 

active  enterprises.  He  afterwards  served  as  an  aid-de 
camp  to  his  Polish  majesty,  with  the  rank  of  major-gen 
eral.  He  exhausted  every  valuable  treatise,  both  ancient 
and  modern,  on  the  military  art,  and  his  capacious  mind 
was  stored  with  knowledge  on  every  subject  which  he 
could  collect  from  reading,  conversation  and  extensive 
travelling  in  Europe.  He  was  honored  with  the  acquaint 
ance  of  princes  and  noblemen,  yet  his  manners  were  rude 
and  singular,  partly  from  nature  and  partly  from  affecta 
tion.  To  his  strong  powers  of  intellect,  he  added  literary 
accomplishments,  and  the  knowledge  of  six  languages 
beside  his  own.  As  a  statesman,  he  appeared  to  be  influ 
enced  by  an  innate  principle  of  republicanism;  an  attach 
ment  to  these  principles  was  implanted  in  the  constitution 
of  his  mind,  and  he  espoused  the  cause  of  America  as  a 
champion  of  her  emancipation  from  oppression.  He  perti 
naciously  opposed  every  oppressive  measure  of  the  British 
cabinet  towards  the  American  colonies,  even  while  he  was 
in  their  service.  On  his  arrival  in  this  country,  he  became 
daily  more  enthusiastic  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  he 
travelled  rapidly  through  the  colonies,  animating,  both  by 
conversation  and  his  eloquent  pen,  to  a  determined  and 
persevering  resistance  to  British  tyranny.  Thus  he  ac 
quired  a  large  share  of  popularity,  and  his  presence  among 
the  people  at  this  crisis  was  considered  as  a  most  fortunate 
and  propitious  omen.  He  probably  expected  to  have  be 
come  the  first  in  military  rank  in  America,  but  in  1775, 
he  accepted  a  commission  of  second  major-general  from 
our  Congress,  having  previously  resigned  that  which  he 
held  in  the  British  service,  and  relinquished  his  half-pay. 
He  accompanied  General  Washington  to  join  the  troops 
assembled  near  Boston,  in  July,  1775,  and  he  was  consid 
ered  as  a  real  acquisition  to  our  cause.  In  the  spring  of 
1776  he  was  ordered  to  New  York,  to  take  the  command 
and  to  fortify  that  city  for  defence.  ISTot  long  after,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  southern  depart 
ment,  and  in  his  travels  through  the  country,  he  received 
every  testimony  of  high  respect  from  the  people.  General 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Sir  Peter  Parker,  with  a  powerful 
fleet  and"  army,  attempted  the  reduction  of  Charleston 
while  he  was  in  command.  The  fleet  anchored  within 
half-musket-shot  of  the  fort  on  Sullivan's  island,  where 
30 


4(50  APPENDIX. 

Colonel  Moultrie,  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  intrepid  of 
men,  commanded.  A  tremendous  engagement  ensued  on 
the  28th  of  June,  1776,  which  lasted  twelve  hours  without 
intermission.  The  whole  British  force  was  completely 
repulsed,  after  suffering  an  irreparable  loss.  General  Lee 
and  Colonel  Moultrie  received  the  thanks  of  Congress  for 
their  signal  bravery  and  gallantry.  Our  hero  had  now 
reached  the  pinnacle  of  his  military  glory,  the  eclat  of  his 
name  alone  appeared  to  enchant  and  animate  the  most 
desponding  heart. 

But  here  we  pause  to  contemplate  the  humiliating  re 
verse  of  human  events.  He  returned  to  the  main  army 
in  October,  and  in  marching  at  the  head  of  a  large  detach 
ment  through  the  Jerseys,  having,  from  a  desire  of  retain 
ing  a  separate  command,  delayed  his  march  several  days 
in  disobedience  of  express  orders  from  the  comrnander-in- 
chief,  he  was  guilty  or  most  culpable  negligence  in  regard 
to  his  personal  security.  He  took  up  his  quarters  two  or 
three  miles  from  the  main  body,  and  lay  for  the  night, 
December  13th,  1776,  in  a  careless,  exposed  situation. 
Information  of  this  being  communicated  to  Colonel  Har- 
court,  who  commanded  the  British  light-horse,  he  pro 
ceeded  immediately  to  the  house,  fired  into  it,  and  obliged 
the  general  to  surrender  himself  a  prisoner.  They  mount 
ed  him  on  a  horse  in  haste,  without  his  cloak  or  hat,  and 
conveyed  him  in  triumph  to  New  York.  A  splendid 
triumph  indeed  it  was,  for  next  to  Washington  he  was 
the  most  highly  prized  as  a  captive  by  the  British,  who 
considered  him  as  the  soul  of  the  American  army,  and 
at  that  juncture  of  our  affairs  a  more  grievous  loss,  Wash 
ington  thought,  could  not  have  been  sustained.  The 
commander-in-chief  greatly  lamented  his  capture,  as  he 
entertained  a  high  opinion  of  his  martial  skill,  and  he  was 
apprehensive  that  the  British  general  would  treat  him  with 
indignity  and  rigor.  Not  having  any  prisoner  of  his  rank, 
his  excellency  immediately  proposed  to  exchange  for  hi  in 
five  Hessian  field-officers,  captured  at  Trenton,  which  is 
equivalent  to  the  rank  of  rnajor-general.  The  British 
commander  affected  to  consider  Lee  as  a  deserter  from  his 
majesty's  service,  and  refused  to  listen  to  proposals  for  an 
exchange,  but  treated  him  with  all  the  rigor  of  a  state 
criminal  of  the  first  magnitude.  This  compelled  the 


APPENDIX.  461 

American  commander,  by  order  of  Congress,  to  retaliate 
on  the  persons  of  five  Hessian  officers,  and  also  on  Colonel 
Campbell,  \vho  was  now  committed  to  a  dungeon.  After 
the  capture  of  General  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  the  enemy 
relaxed  in  their  rigorous  treatment,  and  General  Lee  was 
soon  exchanged  for  Major-General  Prescott.  It  is  next  to 
be  seen  in  what  manner  General  Lee  terminated  his  career 
in  the  continental  service.  In  the  battle  at  Monmouth  on 
the  28th  of  June,  1778,  he  commanded  the  van  of  the 
American  troops,  with  orders  from  the  commander-in-chief 
to  attack  the  retreating  enemy.  Instead  of  obeying  this 
order,  he  conducted  in  an  unworthy  manner,  and  greatly 
disconcerted  the  arrangements  of  the  day.  His  excellency, 
advancing  to  the  field  of  battle,  met  him  in  his  disorderly 
retreat,  and  accosted  him  with  strong  expressions  of  dis 
approbation.  Lee,  incapable  of  brooking  even  an  implied 
indignity,  and  unable  to  restrain  the  warmth  of  his  resent 
ment,  used  improper  language  in  return,  and  some  irrita 
tion  was  excited  on  both  sides  for  the  moment.  Lee  on 
the  same  day  addressed  two  letters  to  the  commander-in- 
chief,  couched  in  disrespectful  language,  and  with  an  air 
of  defiance  solicited  a  trial  for  his  conduct,  in  consequence 
of  which  he  was  immediately  put  under  arrest.  A  court- 
martial,  of  which  Lord  Stirling  was  president,  was  ordered 
for  his  trial  on  the  following  charges :  1st,  For  disobedi 
ence  of  orders  in  not  attacking  the  enemy  on  the  28th  of 
June,  agreeably  to  repeated  instructions.  2d,  For  misbe 
haviour  before  the  enemy  on  the  same  day,  by  making 
an  unnecessary,  disorderly  and  shameful  retreat.  3d,  For 
disrespect  to  the  commander-in-chief,  in  two  letters,  dated 
July  1st  and  June  28th.  The  letter  dated  July  1st  was 
so  dated  my  mistake;  it  was  written  June  28th.  The 
court  found  him  guilty  on  all  the  charges,  and  sentenced 
him  to  be  suspended  from  any  command  in  the  armies  of 
the  United  States  of  America  for  the  term  of  twelve 
months.  He  made  a  masterly  defence,  and  endeavored 
to  prove  that  any  other  course  than  that  pursued  wrould 
have  given  the  enemy  great  advantage,  and  hazarded  the 
destruction  of  our  army.  In  his  adversity  General  Lee 
was  not  altogether  destitute  of  advocates  as  respects  the 
affair  of  Monmouth;  they  allege  that,  were  it  not  for  the 
disrespectful  letters  to  his  excellency,  Lee  would  have 


462  APPENDIX. 

been  acquitted,  arfd  the  degree  of  punishment  seems  in 
some  measure  to  justify  this  opinion.  If  he  had  been 
proved  fully  guilty  of  all  the  charges,  a  suspension  for 
one  year  would  be  inadequate  to  the  magnitude  of  the 
crime.  It  appears  also  that  Congress  did  not  without  some 
demur  sanction  the  sentence  of  the  court-martial.  When 
at  length  their  confirmation  of  the  sentence  was  promul 
gated,  it  was  like  a  mortal  wound  to  the  lofty,  aspiring 
spirit  of  General  Lee.  Pointing  to  his  dog,  he  exclaimed, 
"Oh,  that  I  was  that  animal!  that  I  might  not  call  man 
my  brother."  He  became  outrageous,  and  from  that  mo 
ment  he  was  more  open  and  virulent  in  his  attack  on  the 
character  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  did  not  cease  in 
his  unwearied  endeavors,  both  in  his  conversation  and 
writings,  to  lessen  his  reputation  in  the  estimation  of  the 
army  and  the  public.  He  was  an  active  abettor  of  Gen 
eral  Conway  in  his  calumny  and  abuse  of  General  Wash 
ington,  and  they  were  believed  to  be  in  concert  in  their 
vile  attempts  to  supersede  his  excellency  in  the  supreme 
command.  With  the  hope  of  effecting  his  nefarious  pur 
pose,  he  published  a  pamphlet,  replete  with  scurrilous 
imputations  unfavorable  to  the  military  talents  of  the 
commander-in-chief;  but  this  with  his  other  malignant 
allegations  were  consigned  to  contempt.  At  length  Col 
onel  Laurens,  one  of  General  Washington's  aids,  unable 
longer  to  suffer  this  gross  abuse  of  his  illustrious  friend, 
demanded  of  Lee  that  satisfaction  which  custom  has  sanc 
tioned  as  honorable.  A  rencounter  accordingly  ensued, 
and  Lee  received  a  wound  in  his  side.  Lee,  now  finding 
himself  abandoned  by  his  friends,  degraded  in  the  eye  of 
the  public,  and  despised  by  the  wise  and  virtuous,  retired 
to  his  sequestered  plantation  in  Virginia.  In  this  spot, 
secluded  from  all  society,  he  lived  in  a  sort  of  hovel,  with 
out  glass  windows  or  plastering,  or  even  a  decent  article 
of  house  furniture;  here  he  amused  himself  with  books 
and  dogs.  On  January  10th,  1780,  Congress  resolved  that 
Major-General  Lee  be'informed  that  they  have  no  further 
occasion  for  his  services  in  the  army  of  the  United  States. 
In  the  autumn  of  1782,  wearied  with  his  forlorn  situation 
and  broken  spirit,  he  resorted  to  Philadelphia,  and  took 
lodgings  in  an  ordinary  tavern.  He  was  soon  seized  with 
a  disease  of  the  lungs,  and,  after  a  few  days'  confinement, 


APPENDIX.  463 

he  terminated  his  mortal  course,  a  martyr  to  chagrin  and 
disappointment,  October  2d,  1782.  The  last  words  which 
he  was  heard  to  utter,  were,  "Stand  by  me,  my  brave 
grenadiers!"  The  citizens  of  Philadelphia  were  much 
affected  with  his  unexpected  death,  and  his  funeral  was 
attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people,  the  clergy  of  dif 
ferent  denominations,  the  president  and. members  of  Con 
gress,  and  of  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  the  minister 
of  France  and  his  secretary,  General  Baron  de  Viomenil, 
the  minister  of  War,  and  several  other  officers  of  distinc 
tion,  both  of  the  French  and  of  the  American  army. 

General  Lee  was  rather  above  the  middle  size,  "plain 
in  his  person,  even  to  ugliness,  and  careless  in  his  manners, 
even  to  a  degree  of  rudeness;  his  nose  was  so  remarkably 
aquiline,  that  it  appeared  as  a  real  deformity.  His  voice 
was  rough,  his  garb  ordinary,  his  deportment  morose.  He 
was  ambitious  of  fame,  without  the  dignity  to  support  it. 
In  private  life,  he  sunk  into  the  vulgarity  of  the  clown." 
His  remarkable  partiality  for  dogs  was  such,  that  a  num 
ber  of  these  animals  constantly  followed  in  his  train,  and 
the  ladies  complained  that  he  allowed  his  canine  adherents 
to  follow  him  into  the  parlor,  and  not  unfrequently  a 
favorite  one  might  be  seen  on  a  chair  next  his  elbow  at  table. 

In  the  year  1776,  when  our  army  lay  at  White  Plains, 
Lee  resided  near  the  road  which  General  Washington  fre 
quently  passed,  and  he  one  day  with  his  aids  called  and 
took  dinner ;  after  they  had  departed,  Lee  said  to  his  aids, 
"  You  must  look  me  out  other  quarters,  or  I  shall  have 
Washington  and  his  puppies  calling  till  they  eat  me  up." 
The  next  day  he  ordered  his  servant  to  write  with  chalk  on 
the  door,  "No  victuals  cooked  here  to-day."  The  company, 
seeing  the  hint  on  the  door,  passed  with  a  smile  at  the 
oddity  of  the  man.  "The  character  of  this  person,"  says 
one  who  knew  him  well,  "  is  full  of  absurdities  and  qual 
ities  of  a  most  extraordinary  nature.  His  understanding 
was  great,  his  memory  capacious,  and  his  fancy  brilliant. 
He  was  a  correct  and  elegant  classical  scholar,  and  both 
wrote  and  spoke  his  native  language  with  perspicuity,  force 
and  beauty.  From  these  circumstances  he  was  at  times 
a  most  agreeable  and  instructive  companion.  His  temper 
was  naturally  sour  and  severe.  He  was  seldom  seen  to 
laugh,  and  scarcely  to  smile.  The  history  of  his  life  is 


46-i  APPENDIX. 

little  less  than  the  history  of  disputes,  quarrels  and  duels 
in  every  part  of  the  world.  lie  was  vindictive  to  his 
enemies.  His  avarice  had  no  bounds.  He  never  went 
into  a  public  and  seldom  into  a  private  house  where  he 
did  not  discover  some  marks  of  ineffable  and  contemptible 
meanness.  He  grudged  the  expense  of  a  nurse  in  his  last 
illness,  and  died  in  a  small  dirty  room  in  the  Philadelphia 
tavern,  called  the  Canastoga  Wagon,  attended  by  no  one 
but  a  French  servant,  and  Mr.  Oswald  the  printer,  who 
once  served  as  an  officer  under  him.  He  was  both  impious 
and  profane.  In  his  principles,  he  was  not  only  an  iniidel, 
but  he  was  very  hostile  to  every  attribute  of  the  Diety. 
His  morals  were  exceedingly  debauched.  His  appetite 
was  so  whimsical,  as  to  what  he  ate  and  drank,  that  he 
was  at  all  times  and  in  all  places  a  most  troublesome  and 
disagreeable  guest.  His  judgment  in  war  was  generally 
sound.  He  was  extremely  useful  to  the  Americans  in  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution,  by  inspiring  them  with  mil 
itary  ideas  and  a  contempt  for  British  discipline  and  valor. 
It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  active  and  useful  part  he 
took  in  the  contest  arose  from  personal  resentment  against 
the  king  of  Great  Britain,  or  from  a  regard  to  the  liberties 
of  America.  It  is  certain  he  reprobated  the  French  alli 
ance  and  republican  forms  of  government  after  he  retired 
from  the  American  service.  He  was  in  the  field  brave  in 
the  highest  degree,  and,  with  all  his  faults  and  oddities, 
was  beloved  by  his  officers  and  soldiers.  He  was  devoid 
of  prudence,  and  used  to  call  it  a  rascally  virtue.  Two 
virtues  he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree,  sincerity  and 
veracity.  He  was  never  known  to  deceive  or  desert  a 
friend,  and  he  was  a  stranger  to  equivocation,  even  where 
his  safety  or  character  was  at  stake.  It  was  notorious  that 
General  Lee  was  a  man  of  unbounded  personal  ambition; 
and,  conscious  of  his  European  education,  and  preeminent 
military  talents  and  prowess,  be  affected  a  superiority  over 
General  Washington,  and  constantly  aimed  at  the  supreme 
command,  little  scrupulous  as  to  the  means  employed  tc 
accomplish  his  own  advancement.  In  reference  to  his  base 
detraction,  General  Washington,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  said : 

"What  cause  is  there  for  such  a  profusion  of  venom  as  he  is  emitting 
on  all  occasions? — a  simple  narration  of  facts  would  defeat  all  his  asser 
tions,  notwithstanding  they  are  made  with  an  eifronterv  which  few  men 


APPENDIX. 


465 


do,  and,  for  the  honor  of  humnn  nature,  ought  to  possess." — "If  this 
gentleman  is  envious  of  my  station,  and  conceives  that  J  stand  in  his 
way  to  preferment,  lean  assure  him,  in  most  solemn  terms,  that  the  first 
wish  of  my  soul  is  to  return  to  that  peaceful  retirement,  and  domestic 
ease  and  happiness,  whence  I  came.  To  this  end  all  my  labors  have  been 
directed,  and  for  this  purpose  have  I  been  more  than  four  years  a  perfect 
slave,  endeavoring,  under  as  many  embarrassing  circumstances  as  ever 
fell  to  any  man's  lot  to  encounter,  and  as  pure  motives  as  any  man  was 
ever  influenced  by,  to  promote  the  cause  and  service  I  had  embarked  in." 
— Garden's  Anecdotes. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  General  Lee's  will : 

"I  desire  most  earnestly  that  I  may  not  be  buded  in  any  church  or 
church-yard,  or  within  a  mile  of  any  Presbyterian  or  Anabaptist  Meeting 
House,  for  since  I  have  resided  in  this  country,!  have  kept  so  much  bad 
company  while  living,  that  I  do  not  choose  to  continue  it  when  dead." 

Thomas  Paine  once  said  of  Lee,  that  "he  was  above  all 
monarchs,  and  below  all  scum." 


MAJOR-GENERAL  BENEDICT   ARNOLD, 

THIS  extraordinary  man  is  already  recorded  in  our 
revolutionary  history,  in  the  character  of  a  valiant  and 
intrepid  officer,  and  in  the  next  page  as  a  sordid  and  in 
famous  traitor  to  his  country.  He  was  a  native  of  Con 
necticut,  where  he  was  known  as  a  half-bred  apothecary, 
a  retailer,  a  skipper,  and  a  jockey.  Under  pretence  of 
bankruptcy,  he  committed  perjury  with  the  view  of  de 
frauding  his  creditors.  But  his  mind  was  formed  for  bold 
and  desperate  enterprise,  and  he  was  chosen  captain  of  a 
militia  company  of  volunteers.  On  hearing  of  the  battle 
at  Lexington,  he  marched  with  his  company,  and  arrived 
at  head-quarters,  at  Cambridge,  about  the  last  of  April, 
1775,  where  he  was  promoted  to  a  colonel.  He  immedi 
ately  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Champlain,  and 
united  with  Colonel  Allen  and  his  party,  who  were  prepar 
ing  to  execute  their  plan  for  taking  possession  of  the  Britsh 
garrison  at  Ticonderoga.  This  enterprise  was  crowned 
with  success,  without  bloodshed,  and  an  immense  quantity 
of  valuable  ordnance  and  munitions  of  war  was  taken  for 
the  use  of  our  army.  After  which,  he  proceeded  down 
the  lake  to  St.  John's  in  a  small  schooner,  and  seized  by 
surprise  an  armed  sloop  of  superior  force,  which  he 


466  APPENDIX. 

brought  off  with  several  prisoners.  In  September  follow 
ing.  Colonel  Arnold  was  invested  with  the  command  of 
eleven  hundred  men,  destined  on  a  very  extraordinary 
and  arduous  expedition — no  less  than  penetrating  through 
the  unexplored  wilderness  to  Quebec,  by  the  route  of 
Kennebec  river.  Colonel  Burr,  late  vice-president  of  the 
United  States,  was  with  his  party.  The  expedition  was 
attended  by  the  most  distressing  circumstances  which  can 
be  imagined,  during  which  Arnold  conducted  with  unex 
ampled  resolution,  and  the  soldiers  exercised  the  greatest 
fortitude  and  patience,  and  accomplished  an  undertaking 
almost  incredible.  The  men  were  obliged  to  drag  their 
batteaux  over  falls,  up  rapid  streams,  over  carrying  places, 
and  to  march  through  morasses,  thick  woods,  and  over 
mountains  for  al>out  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles.  A 
part  of  the  detachment,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred 
men,  under  Colonel  Enos,  returned  to  Cambridge  to  avoid 
absolute  starvation  in  the  wilderness.  Some  of  those  who 
persevered  were  compelled  to  feed  on  dogs,  which  they 
devoured  without  sparing  legs  or  skin,  and  also  their  cart 
ridge  boxes,  leather  breeches  and  shoes.  Colonel  Arnold 
appears  to  have  defeated  his  own  object  by  an  imprudent 
act.  He  intrusted  to  a  transient  Indian  a  letter  to  a  friend 
in  Quebec;  the  Indian  betrayed  his  trust,  and  delivered 
the  letter  to  the  British  commandant,  who  immediately 
adopted  measures  for  defence  and  to  oppose  their  march. 
In  December,  1775,  Colonel  Arnold  having  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Quebec,  was  second  in  command  under  General 
Montgomery,  and  led  a  party  in  the  boldest  and  most  spirit 
ed  manner  to  the  attack  of  the  city  of  Quebec,  by  escalade, 
where  he  received  a  wound  by  a  musket-ball  in  his  leg, 
and  the  brave  Montgomery  was  slain.  In  January,  1776, 
Arnold  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier,  and  had 
the  command  of  the  miserable  remains  of  our  army,  and 
retreated  to  Crown  Point.  He  took  from  merchants  at 
Montreal  goods  to  a  very  considerable  amount,  under  cir 
cumstances  which  implicated  his  honor  and  character.  He 
ordered  Colonel  Hazen  to  take  charge  of  the  goods; 
but,  conceiving  that  they  were  taken  unjustly  from  the 
proprietors,  he  refused  to  comply.  On  the  retreat  of  the 
army,  part  of  the  goods  were  pillaged,  in  consequence  of 
which  Colonel  Hazen  was  subjected  to  a  trial,  but  was 


APPENDIX.  4(57 

honorably  acquitted.  This  affair  excited  much  indignation 
among  several  respectable  officers,  who,  having  received 
abusive  treatment  from  Arnold,  demanded  of  General 
Gates,  who  now  commanded  in  chief,  that  he  should  be 
arrested  and  brought  to  trial;  but  Gates,  viewing  him  as 
a  brave  and  valuable  officer,  was  determined  that  he  should 
command  our  fleet  on  Lake  Cham  plain,  and  therefore 
waived  all  complaints  exhibited  against  him.  After  Arnold 
was  invested  with  the  command  of  our  fleet,  Sir  Guy  Carle- 
ton  proceeded  up  Lake  Champlain  with  a  superior  force, 
and  a  furious  contest  ensued.  No  man  could  have  con 
ducted  with  more  intrepid  bravery  than  did  General  Ar 
nold.  By  his  valorous  conduct  he  acquired  the  highest 
applause;  but  being  overpowered,  he  was  obliged  to  retreat 
with  the  Congress  galley,  which  he  commanded,  and  four 
gondolas,  which  he  ran  on  shore  and  blew  up  in  despite 
of  every  effort  of  the  enemy  to  prevent  it.  He  even  dis 
played  a  nice  point  of  honor  in  keeping  his  flag  flying, 
and  not  quitting  his  galley  till  she  was  in  flames,  that  the 
enemy  should  not  board  and  strike  the  American  flag.  In 
April,  1777,  General  Try  on  commanded  an  expedition  from 
New  York,  consisting  of  about  two  thousand  men,  to  des 
troy  a  deposit  of  stores  at  Danbury,  in  Connecticut.  General 
Arnold  by  a  forced  march  reached  the  scene  of  action, 
and  with  his  usual  impetuosity  engaged  the  enemy ;  and, 
when  within  a  few  yards,  a  whole  platoon  was  leveled  at 
him,  by  which  his  horse  was  killed.  A  soldier  was  ad 
vancing  to  'thrust  his  bayonet  through  him,  when  with 
great  presence  of  mind  he  took  his  pistols  from  his  hol 
sters,  and  shot  him  down.  Having  mounted  another  horse, 
that  also  was  shot  through  his  neck.  Congress  resolved, 
that  a  horse  properly  caparisoned  be  presented  to  General 
Arnold,  as  a  token  of  their  approbation  of  his  gallant 
conduct,  in  which  he  had  one  horse  killed  and  another 
wounded.  In  May  following,  he  was  created  a  major- 
general.  When,  in  August,  1777,  General  St.  Leger  in 
vested  Fort  Stanwix,  General  Arnold  marched,  at  the  head 
of  a  detachment  from  Fort  Edward,  to  raise  the  siege;  but 
the  enemy,  alarmed  at  his  approach,  abandoned  the  enter 
prise  before  his  arrival.  In  September  a  serious  difference 
took  place  between  him  and  General  Gates,  who  com 
manded  our  army  at  Saratoga.  A  conscious  superiority 


468  APPENDIX. 

on  one  side,  and  an  arrogant  temper  on  the  other,  sufficed 
to  render  the  contention  almost  irreconcilable.  The  con 
sequence  was,  that  Arnold  in  a  rage  requested  to  be  dis 
charged  from  under  the  command  of  General  Gates,  and 
the  latter  immediately  gave  him  a  passport  to  repair  to 
General  Washington's  head-quarters,  though  a  battle  with 
Burgoyne  was  daily  expected.  He  postponed  his^ depart 
ure,  however,  till  the  sanguinary  conflict  at  Bemis's  heights 
commenced,  October  7th,  when  he  betrayed  great  agitation 
and  wrath.  Rushing  into  the  field  of  battle,  and  acting 
the  part  of  a  desperado,  he  exposed  himself  in  the  most 
rash  and  intemperate  manner.  In  the  heat  of  the  action, 
when  our  troops  were  gaining  advantage,  General  Arnold 
ordered  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brooks,  at  the  head  of  his  re 
giment,  to  force  the  German  lines,  which  was  instantly 
obeyed,  and  they  boldly  entered  at  the  sallyport  together, 
where  Arnold  received  a  wound  in  his  leg,  and  his  horse 
was  killed  under  him.  He  had  so  little  control  of  his  mind, 
that  while  brandishing  his  sword  in  animating  the  officers 
and  soldiers,  he  struck  Captain  Pettingill  and  Captain 
Brown,  and  wounded  one  of  them  on  his  head,  without 
assigning  any  cause  These  gentlemen  the  next  day  re 
quested  Colonel  Brooks  to  accompany  them  to  Arnold's 
quarters,  to  demand  an  explanation.  He  disavowed  all 
recollection  of  the  fact,  and  denied  that  he  had  struck  an 
officer;  but  when  convinced  of  it,  readily  offered  the  re 
quired  apology.  It  is  but  justice  to  confess,  that  by  his 
military  phrenzy,  or  romantic  heroism,  Arnold  contributed 
to  the  honor  and  success  of  the  day.  General  Washing 
ton  had  a  high  sense  of  his  gallantry,  and  presented  him 
a  pair  of  elegant  pistols.  After  the  evacuation  of  Phila 
delphia  by  the  British  army,  General  Arnold  was  intrusted 
with  the  command  in  that  city.  Here  his  display  of  con 
nubial  gallantry,  as  in  the  field  his  martial  spirit,  was 
crowned  with  honor  and  success.  His  addresses  were 
auspiciously  received,  and  he  was  honored  with  the  hand 
of  the  then  celebrated  Miss  Shippen,  one  of  the  most  ele 
gant  and  accomplished  ladies  in  the  city,  but  of  a  tory 
family.  His  whole  soul  now  appeared  to  be  engaged  in 
the  promotion  of  his  own  interest  and  aggrandizement. 
He  occupied  the  house  of  Governor  Penn,  the  best  in  the 
city,  and  this  he  furnished  in  a  rich  and  splendid  style. 


APPENDIX.  4(39 

His  carriage  and  equipage  were  equally  splendid,  and  he 
rioted  in  the  luxury  and  pageantry  of  a  nobleman  "  Proud' 
of  the  trappings  of  office,  and  ambitious  of  an  ostentatious 
display  of  wealth  and  greatness,  the  certain  mark  of  a  nar 
row  mind,  he  had  wasted  the  plunder  acquired  at  Montreal, 
where  his  conduct  had  been  remarkably  reprehensible,  and 
had  dissipated  the  rich  harvest  of  peculation  he  had  reaped 
at  Philadelphia,  where  his  rapacity  had  no  bounds,  fie 
deliberately  seized  every  thing  he  could  lay  his  hands  on 
in  the  city,  to  which  he  could  affix  an  idea  that  it  had  been 
the  property  of  the  disaffected  party,  and  converted  it  to 
his  own  use."* 

Unmindful  of  his  military  station,  he  engaged  in  various 
speculations  and  in  privateering,  in  both  of  which  he  was 
unfortunate.  He  made  exorbitant  demands  on  govern 
ment,  in  compensation  for  public  services,  and  made  bitter 
complaints  against  Congress,  pretending  that  he  suffered 
injustice  from  their  hands.  The  commissioners  appointed 
to  liquidate  his  accounts,  rejected  a  large  proportion  of  his 
demands,  as  being  unjust  and  unfounded,  and  for  which 
he  deserved  severe  reprehension.  He  was  charged  by  the 
citizens  of  Philadelphia  with  gross  acts  of  extortion,  and 
of  peculating  on  the  public  funds;  and  he  was  at  length 
so  notorious  for  his  follies  and  vices,  and  so  audacious  in 
his  reproaches  against  what  he  termed  the  ingratitude  of 
his  country,  that  the  general  voice  demanded  an  investi 
gation  of  his  conduct.  The  government  of  Pennsylvania, 
as  well  as  many  respectable  citizens,  exhibited  formal 
charges  against  him,  and  Congress  directed  that  he  should 
be  arrested,  and  tried  by  a  court-martial.  He  was  sen 
tenced  to  be  reprimanded  by  the  commander-in-chief, 
which  being  approved  by  Congress,«was  carried  into  ex 
ecution  accordingly.  The  emoluments  of  his  office,  with 
all  his  embezzlements,  proved  inadequate  to  his  exigencies, 
and  his  funds  being  exhausted,  he  was  unable  to  meet 
the  demands  of  his  creditors.  Thus  he  evinced  a  mind 
destitute  of  both  moral  principle  and  political  integrity. 
Rebuffed  and  mortified  in  his  vicious  pursuits,  he  became 
soured  and  disaffected  to  our  government  and  cause,  and 
the  most  malevolent  and  rancorous  spirit  agitated  his  un 
principled  bosom,  restrained  by  a  want  of  opportunity  to 
*  History  of  the  American  Revolution  by  Mrs.  M.  Warren. 


470  APPENDIX. 

indulge  his  revenge.  At  the  opening  of  the  campaign  in 
June,  1780,  the  commander-in-chief  offered  him  the  com 
mand  of  the  left  wing  of  our  army,  to  which  his  rank 
entitled  him;  but  this  he  declined,  under  the  pretext  that 
the  wound  which  he  received  at  Saratoga,  rendered  him 
incapable  of  active  service  in  the  field.  He  solicited  the 
station  of  commander  of  the  garrison  at  West  Point,  and 
in  this  request  he  was  indulged  by  the  commander-in-chief, 
who  still  had  confidence  in  him  as  a  military  officer.  He 
was  now  invested  with  a  situation  which  furnished  him 
with  the  meditated  opportunity  of  executing  his  treason 
able  purpose,  and  avenging  himself  on  his  country  and 
the  glorious  cause  of  freedom.  He  engaged  in  a  secret 
correspondence  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  actually 
agreed  to  put  him  in  possession  of  the  important  garrison 
at  West  Point. 

The  British  general,  appreciating  the  importance  of  the 
acquisition,  immediately  closed  with  him  for  the  stipulated 
sum  of  ten  thousand  pounds  sterling,  and  sent  Major  John 
Andre,  his  adjutant-general  and  aid-de-camp,  to  negotiate 
the  arrangement  for  the  surrender  of  the  post.  A  British 
sloop-of-war,  called  the  Vulture,  conveyed  him  up  the 
North  river  within  twelve  miles  of  West  Point,  and  in  the 
night  of  the  21st  of  September,  1780,  by  direction  of  Gen 
eral  Arnold,  this  gentleman  was  brought  on  shore,  under 
the  fictitious  name  of  John  Anderson.  Arnold  received 
him  on  the  beach,  and  conducted  him  to  the  house  of 
Joshua  Smith,  within  our  lines,  and  the  night  was  spent 
in  ripening  the  infamous  plot  for  execution.  The  follow 
ing  night  it  was  attempted  to  reconduct  him  on  board  the 
Vulture;  but  the  boatmen  who  had  been  seduced  to  bring 
him  on  shore,  utterly  refused  to  perform  the  service,  and 
a  return  to  New  York  by  land  was  the  only  alternative. 
Arnold  furnished  him  with  numerous  papers,  containing 
all  the  necessary  information  respecting  the  garrison,  and 
a  passport,  naming  him  John  Anderson,  on  public  business, 
with  which  he  proceeded  on  his  journey. 

Having  reached  Tarrytown,  on  his  route,  Andre  was 
suddenly  arrested  by  three  militia-men,  who,  finding  the 
above-mentioned  papers  concealed  in  his  boots,  immedi 
ately  delivered  them  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Jameson,  the  commanding  officer  on  our  lines.  With  the 


APPENDIX.  471 

view  of  giving  Arnold  an  opportunity  to  escape,  Andre 
had  the  address  to  induce  Colonel  Jameson  to  inform  him. 
by  letter  that  John  Anderson  was  taken  on  his  way  to 
New  York.  On  this  being  received  by  express,  the  guilty 
traitor,  struck  with  the  pressing  danger  of  his  situation, 
instantly  informed  his  wife  that  he  had  received  some  let 
ters  which  obliged  him  to  flee  his  country  for  ever,  and 
desired  her  to  retire  and  remain  in  her  chamber.  He  now 
called  earnestly  for  a  horse,  and  mounted  the  first  that 
presented ;  and,  instead  of  the  usual  path,  he  took  a  shorter 
route,  riding  down  a  very  steep  and  dangerous  precipice 
to  the  landing.  This  has  since  been  called  "  Traitor's-hill." 
The  barge  being  in  readiness,  he  sprang  into  it,  and  ordered 
the  boatmen  to  proceed  down  the  river,  and  he  was  soon 
on  board  the  Vulture,  which  Andre  two  nights  before  had 
left,  and  which  immediately  sailed  with  her  prize  for  New 
York.  Arnold  was  apprised  that  General  Washington, 
being  on  his  return  from  a  journey  to  Hartford,  intended 
to  visit  him  that  day,  and  he  was  momentarily  expected. 
Accordingly  his  excellency  arrived  soon  after  Arnold  had 
absconded;  and  not  finding  him  at  his  quarters,  he  passed 
over  the  river  to  West  Point,  to  view  the  works,  and  with 
the  expectation  of  finding  him  at  his  post;  but  being  dis 
appointed,  he  returned  to  Arnold's  quarters,  where  he  still 
found  that  no  one  could  account  for  his  absence.  But  in 
a  few  hours  despatches  arrived  from  Colonel  Jameson, 
announcing  the  capture  of  Major  Andre,  and  this  was 
accompanied  by  his  own  letter  of  confession.  The  mys 
terious  affair  was  now  developed.  Arnold's  treason  and 
elopement  admitted  at  once  of  explanation.  An  officer 
was  immediately  sent  to  our  fort  at  Verplank's  Point,  with 
orders  to  fire  at  Arnold's  barge;  but  it  was  too  late;  she 
had  already  reached  the  Vulture.  In  about  an  hour  and 
a  half  after  Arnold  had  absconded,  Dr.  Eustis,  who  had 
charge  of  the  hospital  in  the  vicinity,  was  called  to  the 
assistance  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  whose  situation  was  alarming. 
He  found  her  at  the  head  of  the  stair-case,  in  great  disha 
bille,  her  hair  disheveled,  knowing  no  one,  and  frantic 
in  the  arms  of  her  maid  and  Arnold's  two  aids,  struggling 
to  liberate  herself  from  them.  She  was  carried  back  to 
her  chamber,  and  fell  into  convulsions,  which  lasted  sev 
eral  hours.  In  a  lucid  interval,  she  inquired  of  the  doctor 


472  APPENDIX. 

if  General  Washington  was  in  the  house,  expressing  a 
wish  to  see  him.  Believing  that  she  intended  to  say  some 
thing  which  would  explain  the  secret  of  Arnold's  unac 
countable  absence,  he  hastened  below,  gave  notice  of  her 
request,  and  conducted  the  general  to  her  chamber,  who 
remained  no  longer  than  to  hear  her  deny  that  he  was 
General  Washington,  and  to  witness  the  return  of  her  dis 
traction.  When  Arnold  deserted  his  post,  a  corporal,  by 
name  James  Lurvey,  was  the  coxswain  of  his  barge. 
After  their  arrival  on  board  the  Vulture,  and  Arnold  had 
held  an  interview  with  the  officers  in  the  cabin,  he  came 
on  deck,  and  said  to  his  bargemen,  "My  lads,  I  have  quit 
ted  the  rebel  army,  and  joined  the  standard  of  his  Britan 
nic  Majesty.  If  you  will  join  me,  I  will  make  sergeants  and 
corporals  of  you  all ;  and  for  yon,  James,  I  will  do  some 
thing  more."  Indignant  at  the  offer,  Lurvey  promptly 
replied,  "No,  sir;  one  coat  is  enough  for  me  to  wear  at  a 
time!" — a  worthy  example  of  fidelity  in  the  corporal,  and 
a  cutting  sarcasm  on  the  guilty  traitor.  Two  only  of  the 
crew  remained,  and  they  were  British  deserters.  The 
brave  corporal,  with  the  remainder  of  the  men,  returned; 
not,  however,  in  the  barge;  Arnold  had  the  meanness  to 
retain  that  for  his  own  use,  and  gave  them  a  miserable 
boat  in  exchange. 

After  his  arrival  on  board  the  Vulture,  he  addressed  to 
General  Washington  the  following  letter: 

^  "  On  board  the  Vulture,  September  25*fc,  1780. 

"Sin:  The  heart  which  is  conscious  of  its  own  rectitude,  cannot  at 
tempt  to  palliate  a  step  which  the  world  may  censure  as  wrong.  I  have 
ever  acted  from  a  principle  of  love  to  my  country,  since  the  commence 
ment  of  the  present  unhappy  contest  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
colonies;  the  same  principle  of  love  to  my  country  actuates  my  present 
conduct,  however  it  may  appear  inconsistent  to  the  world,  who  very  sel 
dom  judge  right  of  any  man's  actions. 

"I  have  no  favor  to  ask  for  myself;  I  have  too  often  experienced  the 
ingratitude  of  my  country  to  attempt  it;  but  from  the  known  humanity 
of  your  excellency,  I  am  induced  to  ask  your  protection  for  Mrs.  Arnold, 
from  every  insult  and  injury  that  the  mistaken  vengeance  of  my  country 
may  expose  her  to.  It  ought  to  fall  only  on  me:  she  is  as  good  and  as 
innocent  as  an  angel,  and  is  incapable  of  doing  wrong.  I  beg  she  may 
be  permitted  to  return  to  her  friends  in  Philadelphia,  or  to  come  to  me, 
as  she  may  choose;  from  your  excellency  I  have  no  fears  on  her  account, 
but  she  may  suffer  from  the  mistaken  fury  of  the  country. 

"I  have  to  request  that  the  inclosed  letter  may  be  delivered  to  Mrs. 
Arnold,  and  she  permitted  to  write  to  me. 


APPENDIX.  473 

"I  have  also  to  ask  that  my  clothes  and  baggage,  which  are  of  little 
consequence,  may  be  sent  to  me.  If  required,  their  value  shall  be  paid 
in  money. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  regard  and  esteem, 

"  Your  Excellency's  most  obedient,  humble  servant. 

«B.  ARNOLD. 
"His  Excellency  General  Washington. 

"N.  B.  In  justice  to  the  gentlemen  of  my  family,  Colonel  Varrick, 
and  Major  Frank,  I  think  myself  in  honor  bound  to  declare,  that  they, 
as  well  as  Joshua  Smith,  Esquire,  who  I  know  is  suspected,  are  totally 
ignorant  of  any  transactions  of  mine  that  they  had  reason  to  believe 
were  injurious  to  the  public." 

Mrs.  Arnold  was  permitted  to  go  unmolested  to  her 
husband  at  New  York,  and  to  take  her  chariot  with  her. 
Arnold  had  the  audacity  to  remonstrate  to-General  Wash 
ington  against  the  execution  of  Major  Andre,  and  to  at 
tempt  to  intimidate  him.  by  threats  of  retaliation,  should 
the  unfortunate  prisoner  suffer;  but  his  excellency  treated 
both  the  traitor  and  bis  affrontive  letters  with  sovereign 
contempt.  He  next  published  an  address  to  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  in  which  he  pretended  to  ascribe  his 
defection  from  the  American  cause  to  principle,  of  which 
it  is  well  known  that  he  ever  has  been  destitute.  He 
attempts  to  vindicate  his  conduct  by  the  ridiculous  pretence 
that  he  was  actuated  by  motives  favorable  to  the  interests 
of  his  country  by  bringing  the  war  to  a  speedy  termina 
tion,  as  though  the  destiny  of  America  was  doomed  to  be 
at  his  disposal,  and  that  he  was  authorized  to  decide  the 
fate  of  millions.  In  his  artful  address  he  labored  to  palli 
ate  his  own  guilt  and  to  influence  others  to  follow  his  vile 
example.  He  execrated  with  peculiar  bitterness  our  alli 
ance  with  France,  and  accused  Congress  of  tyranny  and 
usurpation,  and  a  total  disregard  of  the  interest  and  wel 
fare  of  the  people.  Not  satisfied  with  this  insidious  appeal 
to  the  people,  he  addressed  by  proclamation  "the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  continental  army,  who  had  the  real 
interest  of  their  country  at  heart,  and  who  were  deter 
mined  to  be  no  longer  the  tools  and  dupes  of  Congress  or 
of  France."  As  inducement  to  the  American  officers  and 
soldiers  to  desert  the  cause  which  they  had  embraced,  he 
represented  that  the  corps  of  cavalry  and  infantry  which 
he  was  authorized  to  raise,  would  be  on  the  same  footing 
with  the  other  troops  in  the  British  service;  that  he  would 


474  APIENDIX. 

with  pleasure  advance  those  whose  valor  he  had  witnessed, 
and  that  the  private  men  who  might  join  him  should  re 
ceive  a  bounty  of  three  guineas  each,  besides  payment  at 
their  full  value  for  horses,  arms,  and  accoutrements.  He 
endeavored  to  paint  in  lively  colors  the  deplorable  condi 
tion  of  our  country,  and  to  reprobate  our  Congress  as 
oppressors,  and  their  authority  as  tyrannical.  "You  are 
promised  liberty,"  he  exclaims,  "  but  is  there  an  individual 
in  the  enjoyment  of  it,  saving  your  oppressors?  Who 
among  you  dare  speak  or  write  what  he  thinks  against  the 
tyranny  which  has  robbed  you  of  your  property,  imprisons 
your  persons,  drags  you  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  is  daily 
deluging  your  country  with  your  blood?"  Again,  "  what 
is  America  now  but  a  land  of  widows,  orphans,  and  beg 
gars?  As  to  you  who  have  been  soldiers  in  the  continent 
al  army,  can  you  at  this  day  want  evidence  that  the  funds 
of  your  country  are  exhausted,  or  that  the  managers  have 
applied  them  to  their  own  private  uses?  In  either  case, 
you  surely  can  no  longer  continue  in  their  service  with 
honor  and  advantage.  Yet  you  have  hitherto  been  their 
supporters  in  that  cruelty  which,  with  an  equal  indifference 
to  yours,  as  well  as  to  the  labor  and  blood  of  others,  is 
devouring  a  country  that  from  the  moment  you  quit  their 
colors  will  be  redeemed  from  their  tyranny."  These  pro 
clamations  failed  of  the  effect  which  they  were  designed 
to  produce;  and  notwithstanding  all  the  hardships,  suffer 
ings  and  irritations  which  the  Americans  were  called  to 
encounter,  "Arnold  remains  the  solitary  instance  of  an 
American  officer  who  abandoned  the  side  first  embraced 
in  the  contest,  and  turned  his  sword  on  his  former  com 
panions  in  arms."  "I  arn  mistaken,"  says  Washington  in 
a  letter  to  a  friend,  "if  at  this  time  Arnold  is  undergoing 
the  torments  of  a  mental  hell.  From  some  traits  of  his 
character  which  have  lately  come  to  my  knowledge,  he 
seems  to  have  been  so  hacknied  in  crime — so  lost  to  all 
sense  of  honor  and  shame — that  while  his  faculties  still 
enable  him  to  continue  his  sordid  pursuits,  there  will  be 
no  time  for  remorse."  "This  man,"  says  Hamilton,  "is 
in  every  sense  despicable.  In  addition  to  the  scene  of 
knavery  and  prostitution  during  his  command  at  Phila 
delphia,  which  the  late  seizure  of  his  papers  has  unfolded, 
the  history  of  his  command  at  West  Point  is  a  history  of 


APPENDIX.  475 

little  as  well  as  of  great  villanies.  He  practised  every 
dirty  act  of  peculation,  and  even  stooped  to  connexions 
with  the  sutlers  of  the  garrison  to  defraud  the  public."  A 
respectable  officer,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  speaks  of  Arnold 
in  the  following  language:  "It  is  not  possible  for  human 
nature  to  receive  a  greater  quantity  of  guilt  than  he  pos 
sesses.  Perhaps  there  is  not  a  single  obligation,  moral  or 
divine,  but  what  he  has  broken  through.  It  is  discovered 
now  that,  in  his  most  early  infancy,  hell  marked  him  for 
her  own,  and  infused  into  him  a  full  proportion  of  her 
own  malice.  His  late  apostacy  is  the  summit  of  his  char 
acter.  He  began  his  negotiations  with  the  enemy,  to  de 
liver  up  West  Point  to  them,  long  before  he  was  invested 
with  the  command  of  it,  and  whilst  he  was  still  in  Phila 
delphia;  after  which,  he  solicited  the  command  of  that 
post  from  the  ostensible  cause  that  the  wound  in  his  leg 
incapacitated  him  for  an  active  command  in  the  field." 
His  papers  contain  the  most  authentic  and  incontestable 
proofs  of  his  crime,  and  that  he  regarded  his  important 
employments  only  as  affording  him  opportunities  to  pillage 
the  public  with  impunity.  The  crimes  of  this  unprinci 
pled  conspirator  are  thus  summed  up:  Treason,  avarice, 
hypocrisy,  ingratitude,  barbarity,  falsehood,  deception, 
peculation  and  robbery.  He  aimed  to  plunge  a  dagger 
into  the  bosom  of  his  country,  which  had  raised  him  from 
the  obscurity  in  which  he  was  born,  to  honors  which  never 
could  have  been  the  object  even  of  his  hopes.  He  robbed 
his  country  at  the  time  of  her  deepest  distress,  having 
directed  his  wife  to  draw  all  she  could  from  the  commis 
saries'  store,  and  sell  or  store  it,  though  at  a  time  when 
the  army  was  destitute  of  provisions.  He  robbed  the  sol 
diers  when  they  were  in  want  of  necessaries,  and  defrauded 
his  own  best  friends  who  trusted  and  had  rendered  him 
the  most  essential  services.  He  spoke  contemptuously  of 
our  allies,  the  French,  and  his  illiberal  abuse  of  every  char 
acter  opposed  to  his  fraudulent  and  wicked  transactions 
exceeds  all  description.  For  the  sake  of  human  nature 
it  were  to  be  wished  that  a  veil  could  for  ever  be  thrown 
over  such  a  vile  example  of  depravity  and  wickedness. 
An  effigy  of  Arnold,  large  as  life,  was  constructed  by  an 
artist  at  Philadelphia,  and  seated  in  a  cart,  with  the  figure 
of  the  devil  at  his  elbow,  holding  a  lantern  up  to  the  face 
31 


476  APPENDIX. 

of  the  traitor  to  show  him  to  the  people,  having  his  name 
and  crime  in  capital  letters.  The  cart  was  paraded  the 
whole  evening  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  with  drums 
and  fifes  playing  the  Rogue's  March,  with  other  marks  of 
infamy,  and  was  attended  by  a  vast  concourse  of  people. 
The  effigy  was  finally  hanged,  for  the  want  of  the  original, 
and  then  committed  to  the  flames.  Yet  this  is  the  man 
on  whom  the  British  have  bestowed  ten  thousand  pounds 
sterling  as  the  price  of  his  treason,  and  appointed  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general  in  their  service.  It  could  scarce 
ly  be  imagined  that  there  was  an  officer  of  honor  left  in 
that  army,  who  would  debase  himself  and  his  commission 
by  serving  under  or  ranking  with  Benedict  Arnold! 

In  January,  1781,  Arnold  was  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
invested  with  the  command  of  one  thousand  seven  hun 
dred  men,  supported  by  a  naval  force,  on  an  expedition 
to  Virginia,  where  he  committed  extensive  ravages  on  the 
rivers  and  along  the  unprotected  coast,  plundering  the 
plantations  to  the  extent  of  his  power.  According  to 
report,  he  shipped  off  a  cargo  of  negroes,  which  he  had 
stolen,  to  Jamaica,  and  sold  them  for  his  own  emolument. 
Having  taken  an  American  captain  prisoner,  he  inquired 
of  him  what  the  Americans  would  do  with  him  if  he 
should  fall  into  their  hands;  the  officer  replied,  they  would 
cut  off  the  leg  that  was  wounded  at  Saratoga,  and  bury  it 
with  the  honors  of  war,  and  hang  the  remainder  of  his 
body  on  a  gibbet.  In  September,  1781,  Arnold  was  again 
vested  with  a  command,  and  sent  on  a  predatory  expedi 
tion  against  New  London,  in  Connecticut,  his  native  state. 
After  taking  possession  of  the  fort,  they  made  a  merciless 
slaughter  of  the  men  who  defended  it,  and  destroyed  an 
immense  quantity  of  provisions,  stores  and  shipping;  sixty 
dwelling-houses  and  eighty-four  stores  were  destroyed,  and 
about  one  hundred  inhabitants  were  deprived  of  their 
habitations,  and  most  of  them  of  their  all.  This  termi 
nated  the  career  of  this  monster  of  wickedness  in  America. 
At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  accompanied  the  royal  army 
to  England.  "The  contempt  that  followed  him  through 
life,"  says  a  late  elegant  writer,*  "is  further  illustrated  by 
the  speech  of  the  present  Lord  Lauderdale,  who,  perceiv 
ing  Arnold  on  the  right  hand  of  the  king,  and  near  his 
*  Alexander  Garden,  Esquire. — Anecdotes  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 


APPENDIX.  477 

person,  as  he  addressed  his  parliament,  declared,  on  his 
return  to  the  Commons,  that,  however  gracious  the  lan 
guage  he  had  heard  from  the  throne,  his  indignation  could 
not  but  be  highly  excited  at  beholding,  as  he  had  done, 
his  majesty  supported  by  a  traitor."  "And  on  another 
occasion,  Lord  Surrey,  since  duke  of  Norfolk,  rising  to 
speak  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  perceiving  Arnold 
in  the  gallery,  sat  down  with  precipitation,  exclaiming,  'I 
will  not  speak  while  that  man'  (pointing  to  him)  'is  in 
the  house.' " 

He  purchased  in  England  a  quantity  of  goods  which 
he  brought  over  to  New  Brunswick ;  the  store  and  goods 
took  fire,  and  the  whole  were  consumed;  but  according 
to  report  they  were  insured  to  a  much  greater  amount 
than  their  real  value.  After  this  event,  no  further  laurels 
remained  for  him  to  achieve;  he  recrossed  the  Atlantic, 
and  died  in  London,  June  14th,  1801. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  RNOX, 

AMONG-  those  of  our  countrymen,  who  most  zealously 
engaged  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  few  sustained  a  rank  more 
deservedly  conspicuous  than  General  Knox.  He  was  one 
of  those  heroes,  of  whom  it  may  be  truly  said,  that  he  lived 
for  his  country. 

The  ardor  of  his  youth  and  the  vigor  of  his  manhood 
were  devoted  to  acquiring  its  liberty  and  establishing  its 
prosperity.  Born  in  Boston,  July,  1750,  his  childhood  and 
youth  were  employed  in  obtaining  the  best  education  that 
the  justly-celebrated  schools  of  his  native  town  afforded. 
In  very  early  life  he  opened  a  book-store,  for  the  enlarge 
ment  of  which  he  soon  formed  an  extensive  correspondence 
in  Europe;  but  little  time  elapsed  before,  at  the  call  of 
his  country,  he  relinquished  this  lucrative  and  increasing 
business.  Indebted  to  no  adventitious  aid,  his  character 
was  formed  by  himself;  the  native  and  vigorous  principles 
of  his  own  mind  made  him  what  he  was.  Distinguished 
among  his  associates,  from  the  first  dawn  of  manhood,  for 
a  decided  predilection  to  martial  exercises,  he  was  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  selected  by  the  young  men  of  Boston  as 
one  of  the  officers  of  a  company  of  grenadiers — a  company 


478  APPENDIX. 

so  distinguished  for  its  martial  appearance,  and  the  pre 
cision  of  its  evolutions,  that  it  received  the  most  flattering 
encomium  from  a  British  officer  of  high  distinction. 

This  early  scene  of  his  military  labors  served  but  as  a 
school  for  that  distinguished  talent  which  afterward  shone 
with  lustre,  in  the  most  brilliant  campaigns  of  an  eight- 
years'  war:  through  the  whole  of  which,  he  directed  the 
artillery  with  consummate  skill  and  bravery. 

His  heart  was  deeply  engaged  in  the  cause  of  freedom ; 
he  felt  it  to  be  a  righteous  cause,  and  to  its  accomplishment 
yielded  every  other  consideration.  When  Britain  declared 
hostilities,  he  hesitated  not  a  moment  what  course  he 
should  pursue.  No  sordid  calculation  of  interest  retarded 
his  decision.  The  quiet  of  domestic  life,  the  fair  prospect 
of  increasing  wealth,  and  even  the  endearing  claims  of 
family  and  friends,  though  urged  with  the  most  persuasive 
eloquence,  had  no  power  to  divert  the  determined  purpose 
of  his  mind. 

In  the  early  stages  of  British  hostility,  though  not  in 
commission,  he  was  not  an  inactive  spectator.  At  the 
battle  of  Bunker-hill,  as  a  volunteer,  he  was  constantly 
exposed  to  danger,  in  reconnoitering  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  and  his  ardent  mind  was  engaged  with  others 
in  preparing  those  measures  that  were  ultimately  to  dis 
lodge  the  British  troops  from  their  boasted  possession  of 
the  capital  of  New  England. 

Scarcely  had  we  began  to  feel  the  aggressions  of  the 
British  arms,  before  it  was  perceived  that,  without  artillery, 
of  which  we  were  then  destitute,  the  most  important  objects 
of  the  war  could  not  be  accomplished.  No  resource  pre 
sented  itself,  but  the  desperate  expedient  of  procuring 
it  from  the  Canadian  frontier.  To  attempt  this,  in  the 
agitated  state  of  the  country,  through  a  wide  extent  of 
wilderness,  was  an  enterprise  so  replete  with  toil  and 
danger,  that  it  was  hardly  expected  any  one  would  be 
found  hardy  enough  to  encounter  its  perils.  Knox,  how 
ever,  saw  the  importance  of  the  object;  he  saw  his  country 
bleeding  at  every  pore,  without  the  power  of  repelling  her 
invaders;  he  saw  the  flourishing  capital  of  frhe  North  in 
the  possession  of  an  exulting  enemy,  that  we  were  destitute 
of  the  means  essential  to  their  annoyance,  and  formed  the 
daring  and  generous  resolution  of  supplying  the  army  with 


APPENDIX.  479 

ordnance,  however  formidable  the  obstacles  that  might 
oppose  him.  Young,  robust  and  vigorous,  supported  by 
an  undaunted  spirit,  and  a  mind  ever  fruitful  in  resources, 
he  commenced  his  mighty  undertaking,  almost  unattended, 
in  the  winter  of  1775,  relying  solely  for  the  execution  of 
his  object-on  such  aid  as  he  might  procure  from  the  thinly- 
scattered  inhabitants  of  the  dreary  region  through  which 
he  had  to  pass.  Every  obstacle  of  season,  roads,  and  cli 
mate  were  surmounted  by  determined  perseverance;  and 
a  few  weeks,  scarcely  sufficient  for  a  journey  so  remote, 
saw  him  return  laden  with  ordnance  and  the  stores  of  war 
— drawn  in  defiance  of  every  obstacle  over  the  frozen  lakes 
and  mountains  of  the  north.  Most  acceptable  was  this 
offering  to  our  defenceless  troops,  and  most  welcome  to 
the  commander-in-chief,  who  well  knew  how  to  appreciate 
a  service  so  important.  This  expedition  stamped  the 
character  of  him  who  performed  it  for  deeds  of  enterprise 
and  daring.  lie  received  the  most  flattering  testimony  of 
approbation  from  the  commander-in-chief  and  from  Con 
gress,  and  was  in  consequence  of  this  important  service 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  artillery,  of  which  he 
had  thus  laid  the  foundation,  in  which  command  he  con 
tinued  with  increasing  reputation  through  the  Eevolu- 
tionary  War. 

Among  the  incidents  that  occurred  during  the  expe 
dition  to  Canada,  was  his  accidental  meeting  with  the 
unfortunate  Andre,  whose  subsequent  fate  was  so  deeply 
deplored  by  every  man  of  feeling  in  both  nations.  His 
deportment  as  a  soldier  and  gentleman  so  far  interested 
General  Knox  in  his  favor,  that  he  often  afterward 
expressed  the  most  sincere  regret  that  he  was  called  by 
duty  to  act  on  the  tribunal  that  pronounced  his  con 
demnation. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  war,  the  corps  of  artillery 
was  principally  employed  with  the  main  body  of  the  army, 
and  near  the  person  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  was 
relied  on  as  an  essential  auxiliary  in  the  most  important 
battles. 

There  was  perhaps  no  period  of  the  war  when  the 
American  cause  assumed  an  aspect  so  precarious  as  in 
the  autumn  of  1777.  Philadelphia,  then  the  centre  and 
capital  of  our  country — preeminent  for  ^ts  wealth,  its 


480  APPENDIX. 

population,  and  its  trade — a  place  most  distinguished  for 
the  progress  of  the  arts,  was  destined  to  fall  within  the 
grasp  of  our  haughty  foe.  In  the  campaign  that  preceded 
its  occupation  by  the  British,  General  Knox  was  a  con 
spicuous  actor,  eager  for  the  contest,  yet  compelled  with 
his  brave  companions  to  lament  that  the  equipments  of 
our  army  were  unequal  to  the  heroic  spirits  of  its  soldiers. 
Trenton  and  Princeton  witnessed  his  enterprise  and  valor. 
At  that  critical  period  of  our  affairs,  when  hope  had  almost 
yielded  to  despair,  and  the  great  soul  of  Washington 
trembled  for  his  country's  freedom,  Knox  was  one  of 
those  that  strengthened  his  hand  and  encouraged  his 
heart.  At  that  awful  moment,  when  the  tempest  raged 
with  its  greatest  fury,  he,  with  Greene  and  other  heroes, 
stood  as  Pillars  of  the  Temple  of  Liberty,  till  the  fury  of 
the  storm  was  past. 

The  letters  of  General  Knox,  still  extant,  written  in 
the  darkest  periods  of  the  revolution,  breathe  a  spirit  of 
devotedness  to  the  cause  in  which  he  had  embarked,  and 
a  firm  reliance  on  the  favor  of  Divine  Providence;  from 
a  perusal  of  those  letters  it  is  evident  that  he  never  yielded 
to  despondency,  but,  in  the  most  critical  moments  of  the 
war,  confidently  anticipated  its  triumphant  issue. 

In  the  bloody  fields  of  Germantown  and  Monmouih, 
without  derogating  from  the  merits  of  others,  it  may  be 
said  that  during  the  whole  of  these  hard-fought  battles, 
no  officer  was  more  distinguished  for  the  discharge  of  the 
arduous  duties  of  his  command.  In  the  front  of  the  battle 
he  was  seen  animating  his  soldiers,  and  pointing  the 
thunder  of  their  cannon.  His  skill  and  bravery  were  so 
conspicuous  on  the  latter  occasion,  that  he  received  the 
particular  approbation  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  in  gen 
eral  orders  issued  by  him  the  day  succeeding  that  of  the 
battle,  in  which  he  says,  that  "the  enemy  have  done  them 
the  justice  to  acknowledge  that  no  artillery  could  be  better 
served  than  ours."  But  his  great  exertions  on  that  occa 
sion,  together  with  the  extreme  heat  of  the  day,  produced 
the  most  alarming  consequences  to  his  health.  To  these 
more  important  scenes,  his  services  were  not  confined; 
with  a  zeal  devoted  to  our  cause,  he  was  ever  at  the  post 
of  danger;  and  the  immortal  hero,  who  stands  first  on  the 
list  of  heroes  and  of  men,  has  often  expressed  his  sense  of 


APPENDIX.  .        481 

their  services.  In  every  field  of  battle  where  "Washington 
fought,  Knox  was  by  his  side.  The  confidence  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  inspired  by  early  services,  was  thus 
matured  by  succeeding  events.  There  can  be  no  higher 
testimony  to  his  merits  than  that,  during  a  war  of  so  long 
continuance,  passed  almost  constantly  in  the  presence  of 
Washington,  he  uniformly  retained  his  confidence  and 
esteem,  which  at  their  separation  had  ripened  into  friend 
ship  and  affection.  The  parting  interview  between  Gen 
eral  Knox  and  his  illustrious  and  beloved  chief,  after  the 
evacuation  of  New  York,  by  the  British,  and  Knox  had 
taken  possession  of  it  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of  our 
army,  was  inexpressibly  affecting.  The  hour  of  their 
separation  having  arrived,  Washington,  incapble  of  utter 
ance,  grasped  his  hand,  and  embraced  him  in  silence  and 
in  tears.  His  letters, 4o  the  last  moment  of  his  life,  con 
tain  the  most  flattering  expressions  of  his  unabated  friend 
ship.  Honorable  to  himself  as  had  been  the  career  of  his 
revolutionary  services,  new  laurels  were  reserved  for  him 
at  the  siege  of  Yorktovvn. — To  the  successful  result  of  this 
memorable  siege,  the  last  brilliant  act  of  our  revolutionary 
contest,  no  officer  contributed  more  essentially  than  the 
commander  of  the  artillery.  His  animated  exertions,  his 
military  skill,  his  cool  and  determined  bravery  in  this  tri 
umphant  struggle,  received  the  unanimous  approbation  of 
his  brethren  in  arms,  and  he  was  immediately  created  major- 
general  by  Congress,  at  the  recommendation  of  the  com 
mander-in-chief,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  whole  army. 

The  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis  closed  the  contest,  and 
with  it  his  military  life.  Having  contributed  so  essentially 
to  the  successful  termination  of  the  war,  he  was  selected 
as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  adjust  the  terms  of  peace, 
which  service  he  performed,  in  conjunction  with  his  col 
leagues,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  countrv.  He  was 
deputed  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  soon  after  appointed  to  the  command  of  West  Point. 
It  was  here  that  he  was  employed  in  the  delicate  and 
arduous  duty  of  disbanding  the  army,  and  inducing  a 
soldiery,  disposed  to  turbulence  by  their  privations  and 
sufferings,  to  retire  to  domestic  life,  and  resume  the  peaceful 
character  of  citizens. 

It  is  a  fact  most  honorable  to  his  character  that,  by  his 


482  APPENDIX. 

countenance  and  support,  he  rendered  the  most  essential 
aid  to  Washington,  in  suppressing  that  spirit  of  usurpation 
which  had  been  industriously  fomented  by  a  few  unprin 
cipled  and  aspiring  men,  whose  aim  was  the  subjugation 
of  the  country  to  a  military  government.  No  hope  of 
political  elevation — no  flattering  assurances  of  aggrandize 
ment — could  tempt  him  to  build  his  greatness  on  the  ruin 
of  his  country. 

The  great  objects  of  the  war  being  accomplished,  and 
peace  restored  to  our  country,  Gen.  Knox  was  early,  under 
the  confederation,  appointed  secretary  of  war  by  Congress, 
in  which  office  he  was  confirmed  by  President  Washington, 
after  the  establishment  of  the  federal  government.  The 
duties  of  this  office  were  ultimately  increased,  by  having 
those  of  the  navy  attached  to  them — to  the  establishment 
of  which  his  counsel  and  exertions  eminently  contributed. 
He  differed  in  opinion  from  some  other  members  of  the 
cabinet  on  this  most  interesting  subject. — One  of  the 
greatest  men*  whom  our  country  has  produced,  has  uni 
formly  declared  that  he  considered  America  much  indebted 
to  his  efforts  for  the  creation  of  a  power  which  has  already 
so  essentially  advanced  her  respectability  and  fame. 

Having  filled  the  office  of  the  war  department  for  eleven 
years,  he  obtained  the  reluctant  consent  of  President 
Washington  to  retire,  that  he  might  give  his  attention  to 
the  claims  of  a  numerous  and  increasing  family.  This 
retirement  was  in  concurrence  with  the  wishes  of  Mrs. 
Knox,  who  had  accompanied  him  through  the  trying 
vicissitudes  of  war,  shared  with  him  its  toils  and  perils, 
and  who  was  now  desirous  of  enjoying  the  less  busy  scenes 
of  domestic  life.  A  portion  of  the  large  estates  of  her 
ancestor,  General  Waldo,  had  descended  to  her,  which  he 
by  subsequent  purchase  increased  till  it  comprised  the 
whole  Waldo  Patent,  an  extent  of  thirty  miles  square,  and 
embracing  a  considerable  part  of  that  section  of  Maine 
which  now  constitutes  the  counties  of  Lincoln,  Hancock, 
and  Penobscot.  To  these  estates  he  retired  from  all  con 
cern  in  public  life,  honored  as  a  soldier  and  beloved  as  a 
man,  devoting  much  of  his  time  to  their  settlement  and 
improvement.  He  was  induced  repeatedly  to  take  a  share 
in  the  government  of  the  state,  both  in  the  house  of  rep- 
*  President  Adams. 


APPENDIX.  433 

resentatives  and  in  the  council — in  the  discharge  of  whose 
several  duties,  he  employed  his  wisdom  and  experience 
with  the  greatest  assiduity.  At  that  time  Maine  and 
Massachusetts  composed  one  great  and  powerful  state. 
His  enlarged  and  liberal  policy,  as  a  legislator,  was  mani 
fested  on  every  question  on  which  he  acted,  and  in  every 
debate  in  which  he  took  a  part.  While  at  the  council 
board  of  Massachusetts,  on  all  public  political  questions, 
his  opinions  had  great  weight  with  Governor  Strong,  at 
that  period  the  worthy  chief  magistrate  of  the  common 
wealth.  Though  independent  and  firm  in  his  political 
sentiments,  like  Strong,  he  was  disposed  to  conciliate  those 
who  -differed  from  him  in  opinion,  and  was  wholly  free 
from  the  spirit  of  intolerance. 

In-' 1798,  when  the  French  insults  and  injuries  towards 
this  country  called  for  resistance,  he  was  one  of  those  se 
lected  to  command  our  armies,  and  to  protect  our  liberty 
and  honor  from  the  expected  hostilities  of  the  French 
Directory:  happily  for  our  country,  their  services  were 
not  required. 

Retired  from  the  theatre  of  active  life,  he  still  felt  a  deep 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his  country.  To  that  portion 
of  it  which  he  had  chosen  for  his  residence,  his  exertions 
were  more  immediately  directed.  His  views,  like  his  soul, 
were  bold  and  magnificent;  his  ardent  mind  could  not 
wait  the  ordinary  course  of  time  and  events ;  it  outstripped 
the  progress  of  natural  improvement.  Had  he  possessed 
a  cold,  calculating  mind,  he  might  have  left  behind  him 
the  most  ample  wealth;  but  he  would  not  have  been  more 
highly  valued  by  his  country,  or  more  beloved  by  his 
friends. — He  died  at  Montpelier,  his  seat  in  Thornaston, 
25th  of  October,  1806,  from  sudden  internal  inflammation, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  from  the  full  vigor  of  health. 

The  great  qualities  of  General  Knox  were  not  merely 
those  of  the  hero  and  the  statesman;  with  these  were 
combined  those  of  the  elegant  scholar  and  the  accomplished 
gentleman.  There  have  been  those  as  brave  and  as  learned, 
but  rarely  a  union  of  such  valor  with  so  much  urbanity 
— a  mind  so  great,  yet  so  free  from  ostentation. 

In  sketching  the  life  of  such  a  man,  it  is  not  the  least 
interesting  part  to  recall  his  private  virtues.  Long  will 
he  be  remembered  as  the  ornament  of  every  circle  in 


48-1  APPENDIX. 

which  he  moved — as  the  amiable  and  enlightened  com. 
panion,  the  generous  friend,  the  man  of  feeling  and  benev 
olence.  His  conversation  was  animated  and  cheerful,  and 
he  imparted  an  interest  to  every  subject  that  he  touched. 
In  his  gayest  moments  he  never  lost  sight  of  dignity;  he 
invited  confidence,  but  repelled  familiarity.  His  imagin 
ation  was  brilliant,  his  conceptions  lofty;  and  no  man  ever 
possessed  the  power  of  embodying  his  thoughts  in  more 
vigorous  language;  when  ardently  engaged,  they  were 
peculiarly  bold  and  original,  and  you  irresistibly  felt  in 
his  society  that  his  intellect  was  not  of  the  ordinary  class. 
Yet  no  man  was  more  unassuming — none  more  delicately 
alive  to  the  feelings  of  others.  He  had  the  peculiar  talent 
of  rendering  all  who  were  with  him  happy  in  themselves; 
and  no  one  ever  more  feelingly  enjoyed  the  happiness  of 
those  around  him.  Philanthropy  filled  his  heart;  in  his 
benevolence  there  was  no  reserve — it  was  as  diffusive  as 
the  globe,  and  extensive  as  the  family  of  man.  His  feel 
ings  were  strong  and  exquisitely  tender.  In  the  domestic 
circle  they  shone  with  peculiar  lustre:  here,  the  husband, 
the  father  and  the  friend,  beamed  in  every  smile — and  if 
at  any  time  a  cloud  overshadowed  his  own  spirit,  he  strove 
to  prevent  its  influence  from  extending  to  those  that  were 
dear  to  him.  He  was  frank,  generous,  and  sincere;  and 
in  his  intercourse  with  the  world,  uniformly  just.  His 
house  was  the  seat  of  elegant  hospitality,  and  his  estimate 
of  wealth,  was  its  power  of  diffusing  happiness.  To  the 
testimony  of  private  friendship,  may  be  added  that  of  less 
partial  strangers,  who  have  borne  witness  both  to  his  public 
and  private  virtues.  Lord  Moira,  who  is  now  perhaps  the 
greatest  general  that  England  can  boast  of,  has  in  a  late 
publication  spoken  in  high  terms  of  his  military  talents. 
Nor  should  the  opinion  of  the  Marquis  Chattelleux  be 
omitted:  "  As  for  General  Knox,"  he  says,  "to  praise  him 
for  his  military  talents  alone,  would  be  to  deprive  him  of 
half  the  eulogium  he  merits;  a  man  of  understanding, 
well  informed,  gay,  sincere  and  honest — it  is  impossible 
to  know  without  esteeming  him,  or  to  see  without  loving 
him — thus  have  the  English,  without  intention,  added  to 
the  ornaments  of  the  human  species,  by  awakening  talents 
where  they  least  wished  or  expected."  Judge  Marshall 
also,  in  his  Life  of  Washington,  thus  speaks  of  him* 


APPENDIX.  485 

"Throughout  the  contest  of  the  revolution,  this  officer  had 
continued  at  the  head  of  the  American  artillery,  and,  from 
being  colonel  of  a  regiment,  had  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major-general.  In  this  important  station  he  had 
preserved  a  high  military  character,  and  on  the  resignation 
of  General  Lincoln,  had  been  appointed  secretary  of  war. 
To  his  great  services,  and  to  unquestionable  integrity,  he 
was  admitted  to  unite  a  sound  understanding;  and  the 
public  judgment  as  well  as  that  of  the  chief  magistrate, 
pronounced  him  in  all  respects  competent  to  the  station 
he  filled.  The  president  was  highly  gratified  in  believing 
that  his  public  duty  comported  with  his  private  inclination, 
in  nominating  General  Knox  to  the  office  which  had  been 
conferred  on  him  under  the  former  government." — As  a 
proof  of  their  estimation  of  his  literary  attainments,  the 
president  and  trustees  of  Dartmouth  College  conferred  on 
him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws.  • 

Perhaps  in  no  instance  of  his  life  was  his  warmth  of 
heart  and  strength  of  attachment  more  fully  exemplified 
than  at  the  closing  interview  of  the  principal  leaders  of 
the  war,  when  they  were  about  to  take  a  final  leave  of 
each  other,  never  probably  to  meet  again.  It  was  most 
natural  that  the  recollection  of  the  past  scenes  should 
awaken  the  liveliest  emotions:  the  bosom  of  the  soldier 
is  the  residence  of  honor  and  of  feeling,  and  no  man  cher 
ished  them  more  fondly  than  Knox.  He  proposed  to  his 
brethern  in  arms  that  some  course  should  be  adopted  to 
keep  alive  the  generous  attachment  which  was  the  fruit  of 
their  long  intercourse  and  mutual  toils  and  dangers;  the 
proposal  accorded  with  the  feelings  of  the  principal  officers 
of  the  army,  who  united  in  forming  the  Cincinnati,  a  so 
ciety  whose  object  was  to  cement  and  perpetuate  the  friend 
ship  of  its  founders,  and  transmit  the  same  sentiment  to 
their  descendants.  Pure  as  are  believed  to  have  been 
the  motives  of  those  who  associated  in  forming  this  society, 
there  were  not  wanting  some  who,  from  ignorance  or  illib 
eral!  ty,  professed  to  doubt  the  purity  of  its  character  and 
the  correctness  of  its  objects.  But  it  is  a  fact,  derived  from 
the  highest  authority,*  that  it  had,  from  its  commencement, 
the  unqualified  approbation  of  the  commander-in-chief, 
expressed  in  the  most  decided  language.  Such  sanction 
*  Governor  Brooks. 


486  APPENDIX. 

as  that  of  Washington  could  not  fail  to  do  away  every 
suspicion  of  its  unfairness,  and  to  establish  the  rectitude 
of  its  motives  and  principles. 

General  Knox  was  a  supporter  of  Christian  institutions, 
and  contributed  much,  by  his  liberality  and  his  example, 
to  promote  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  It  always  appear 
ed  to  afford  him  the  highest  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to 
the  excellence  of  Christianity,  and  he  often  expressed  his 
firm  belief  that  its  exalted  principles  were  intended  to  cor 
rect  the  heart  and  to  purify  the  life;  to  make  man  what  he 
ought  to  be  in  this  world,  and  to  prepare  him  for  the  more 
elevated  enjoyments  of  the  future.  He  most  firmly  believed 
in  the  immortality  and  the  immateriality  of  the  soul. 

From  his  reflections  on  religion,  committed  by  him  to 
paper,  it  is  evident  that  his  thoughts  were  often  and  in 
tensely  employed  on  the  all-important  concerns  of  a  future 
state  of  existence;  that  he  firmly  believed  in  an  overruling 
Providence,  and  that  he  was  created  and  sustained  by  its 
power  and  goodness.  He  considered  the  order,  harmony 
and  beauty  of  creation,  as  affording  the  most  convincing 
proof  of  wisdom  and  design.  He  thought  the  universal 
distribution  of  blessings  among  mankind,  furnished  con 
clusive  evidence  of  the  goodness  of  the  Being  from  whose 
bounty  they  flow.  But  it  was  a  subject  on  which  he  rea 
soned  for  himself,  unfettered  by  the  arrogant  dogmas  of 
the  churchmen,  or  the  metaphysical  subtleties  of  the 
schools.  He  expressed  exalted  pleasure  in  the  full  con 
viction  that  the  arm  of  Almighty  Power  was  extended 
for  the  protection  of  the  whole  family  of  man,  without 
respect  to  Jew  or  Gentile.  The  exclusive  pretensions  of 
the  various  sects  and  denominations  in  the  church,  he  con 
sidered  the  fruits  of  human  invention,  and  altogether  un 
worthy  the  wisdom  of  the  Almighty  Mind. 

Elevated  by  the  aspirations  of  his  own  exalted  mind, 
he  believed  our  residence  on  this  globe,  which  he  consi 
dered  but  an  atom  in  creation,  as  only  the  commencement 
of  a  progressive  state  of  existence,  still  rising  toward  per 
fection  from  sphere  to  sphere,  till,  by  successive  gradations 
of  intellectual  and  moral  improvement,  we  are  prepared 
for  the  presence  and  enjoyment  of  the  All-perfect  Being 
who  created  us. 


LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Short-lived  reputation  of  many  of  Earth's  heroes — Washington  a  striking 
exception — greatness  and  goodness — English  ancestry — birth-place — love 
of  country  life — early  school  days — daily  readings  at  home — first  a  Bridge- 
creek  school — military  turn — midshipman's  warrant — its  reprisal — survey 
ing — "lowland  beauty." 

NUMBERLESS  heroes  of  the  world — those  who  have 
figured  conspicuously  on  the  theater  of  action  in  time, 
have  passed  away  and  been  forgotten.  The  record  of 
their  deeds  can  be  found  on  no  pa^e  of  history,  and  tradi 
tion  is  silent  upon  those  things  which  marked  their  career, 
among  a  circle  of  admirers,  as  brilliant  and  noble.  They 
lived  in  the  Past.  Antiquity  claims  them  as  her  own. 
What  have  they  to  do  with  the  present  and  the  future  ? — • 
and  is  it  alike  true  of  all  ?  There  is,  at  least,  an  exception 
upon  American  soil ;  one  whose  fame  is  undying — whose 
name  has  become  the  synonym  of  all  that  is  good  and 
great,  the  fragrance  of  which  is  even  stronger  than  at  the 
beginning,  and  posterity,  we  hesitate  not  to  say,  will  be 
able  to  gather  it  in  all  its  richness,  with  nothing,  in  any 
wise,  detracted  from  its  original  freshness.  Never  were 
the  stamp  of  immortality  more  indelibly  engraven  upon 
the  character  of  man,  than  our  own  illustrious  Washing 
ton.  The  halo  which  encircles  his  memory  is  still  bright, 
though  many  a  decade  has  passed  since  the  place  that 
knew  him  upon  earth,  know  him  no  more  forever,  and 
those  that  come  after  us  will  see  the  brightness  undimmed, 
for  what  has  been,  is  a  pledge  of  what  will  be.  Poets, 
statesmen,  philanthropists,  historians — all,  of  every  con 
dition,  sentiment  and  opinion,  have  conspired  together  to 
enhance  the  glory  here  manifest.  The  language  of  eulogy 
has  been  exhausted,  and  imagination  has  been  tasked,  as 
it  were,  to  coin  new  phrases  that  should  add  new  dignity 
to  one  already,  covered  with  honors.  His  name  is  closely 
linked  with  liberty — the  dearest  word  in  our  almost  limit 
less  vocabulary ; — it  is  sounded  with  peculiar  emphasis 
on  every  occasion  which  celebrates  the  country's  festivi- 


488  LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

ties; — it  is  spoken  by  the  lover  of  mankind  whenever  he 
would  present  a  model  to  youth  that  should  win  to  virtue 
and  self-sacrifice  in  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice,  and 
indeed  there  is  scarcely  a  place,  or  a  time,  where,  or  upon 
which  it  may  not  be  appropriately  mentioned  as  connected 
with  example.  We  can  adduce  other  instances  of  men 
who  boast  of  great  military  achievements — who  have  the 
reputation  of  being  great  generals — of  having  wrought 
out  great  plans  for  consolidating  public  interests,  but 
where  shall  we  look  for  such  a  combination  of  greatness 
and  goodness  as  in  the  character  of  him  whose  life  we  now 
briefly  consider? 

Greatness  stands  on  a  lofty  height  and  commands  our 
admiration,  but  we  grow  dizzy  with  looking,  while  good 
ness,  with  angelic  wing,  folds  itself  about  us,  to  win,  guard, 
and  bless; — to  exalt  us  as  nothing  else  can.  It  was  this 
rare  union  of  qualities  that  made  Washington  what  he 
was.  He  did  not  live,  indeed,  with  no  whisper  of  asper 
sion.  He  himself  was  human — was  surrounded  by  imper 
fect  humanity,  and  yet,  we  venture  to  say,  there  never 
lived  a  man  who  knew  so  much  of  promotion,  against 
whom  the  shafts  of  calumny  were  so  seldom  directed  as 
against  him.  Again  and  again  has  he  been  awarded  the 
highest  place  that  could  be  given  by  devoted  people,  and 
then  looking  for  the  man,  we  find  him  enveloped  with 
clouds  of  incense  going  up  from  altars  that  burn  brightly 
in  thousands  of  human  hearts.  Say  what  we  will,  we  are 
compelled  to  acknowledge  that  a  great  and  good  man 
passed  from  this  terrestrial  vale  when  the  animating 
spark  went  out  of  the  commanding  form  of  the  "Coun 
try's  Father,"  and  left  it  lifeless  and  powerless. 

At  such  a  time  as  this,  when  it  is  said — he  is  gone,  we 
gather  up  the  reminiscences  of  the  life  that  has  died  out, 
and  treasure  them  as  our  legacy.  Every  thing,  however 
remotely  connected  with  the  departed,  is  not  without  in 
terest.  It  is  not  enough  that  we  know  the  man  himself, — 
we  follow  far  back  the  ancestral  line,  like  an  explorer 
traversing  the  winding  streams  telling  yet  of  some  point 
he  would  be  most  happy  to  gain.  Thus  going  backward, 
we  must  find  an  ocean  path  to  English  shores  before  we 
find  the  homes  where  lived  the  worthy  men  distinguished 
as  the  ancestors  of  George  Washington.  There  we  find 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  489 

the  spirit  of  independence  and  patriotism  which  was 
transmitted  from  one  generation  to  another,  until  it  was 
developed  in  our  own  land  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cause 
every  bosom  to  glow  with  ambition  to  be  rid  of  every 
yoke  • — to  be  free  from  every  fetter  that  would  in  any 
way  enchain  mind  or  body.  Previous  to  the  twelfth  cen 
tury,  the  distinctive  name  of  the  Washington ian  race 
was  Hertburn,  but  subsequently  owing  to  circumstances 
relating  to  property  we  hear  of  the  "manor  of  Wessing- 
ton," — a  name,  which  by  no  very  strange  transformation 
came  to  be  written  as  Washington,  and  fixed  as  a  family 
title.  One,  Sir  Henry,  we  find  gaining  celebrity  in  the 
time  of  Cromwell,  by  holding  the  city  of  Worcester 
against  Fairfax  and  the  Parliamentary  army.  Others  dis 
tinguished  themselves  in  literature  and  various  other 
callings,  and  the  traveler,  thoughtful  to  gain  information 
of  the  honored  race,  may  find  their  burial  places  still  in 
the  pleasant  village  of  Cookham,  not  far  from  the  royal 
palace  of  Windsor,  where  the  crowned  of  England  have 
so  long  dwelt,  affording  sufficient  evidence,  in  appearance, 
that  they  were  esteemed  in  life  and  lamented  in  death. 
The  first  time  that  our  soil  echoed  to  the  tread  of  a  Wash 
ington  was  in  1657,  when  one  by  the  name  of  John,  with 
his  brother  came  over  and  located  themselves  in  the  county 
of  Westmoreland,  Virginia.  The  former,  by  his  ability, 
and  native  force  of  character,  became  a  prominent  citizen, 
and  so  far  secured  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  the 
people  as  to  gain  the  distinction  from  them  of  having  the 
parish  called  by  his  own  name.  Here,  at  a  place  called 
Bridge's  creek,  the  family  lived  for  many  years,  and  here 
too,  Augustin  Washington  dwelt — the  father  of  the  illus 
trious  hero  of  America.  Forty-nine,  only,  was  the  allot 
ted  number  of  his  years,  but  those  are  said  to  have  been 
mainly  prosperous  and  happy,  though  affliction — the  ordi 
nary  lot  of  humanity,  came  to  him,  and  once  in  a  severe 
visitation  which  deprived  him  of  the  companion  of  his 
first  choice — Jane  Butter,  who  left  to  his  care  two  boys  as 
objects  of  his  comfort  and  solicitude.  In  process  of  time, 
he  took  to  his  home  and  heart  Mary  Ball — the  Mary  who 
became  the  proud  and  happy  mother  of  a  son  whom  she 
little  dreamed,  when  looking  into  his  infant  face,  was  to 
become  involved  in  the  destinies  of  his  country,  in  a  most 


490  LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

important  sense.  It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of 
February,  1732,  that  he  opened  his  eyes  upon  the  scene 
that  was  in  coming  time  to  render  him  conspicuous  and 
renowned  before  the  worlds  on  either  side  of  the  rolling 
ocean.  Nothing  special  marked  the  era.  Nothing  unusual 
attended  the  advent  of  him  who  was  to  be  styled  the  na 
tion's  deliverer.  The  house  where  he  was  born  was  situa 
ted  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Potomac,  but  it  was 
lonely  and  unpretending  like  the  dwellings  of  other  farm 
ers  in  the  vicinity.  The  style  of  living  to  which  he  was 
introduced  was  plain  and  humble,  and  to  these  external 
circumstances  regarded  by  many  as  exceedingly  unfortu 
nate,  may  be  attributed  the  steady  growth  and  harmoni 
ous  development  of  those  qualities  which  marked  his  fit 
ness  for  places  of  high  responsibility  and  trust.  Arnong 
the  genial  influences  of  nature; — with  a  necessity  for 
industry  and  frugality,  there  was  laid  broad  and  deep  the 
foundations  of  a  character  that  should  serve  as  a  model 
for  mankind  through  successive  generations,  if  not  for  all 
time.  The  love  of  country  life  became  early  a  strong 
principle,  and  it  never  forsook  him.  He  was  emphatically 
a  rural  man,  always  loving  to  turn  aside  from  the  digni 
ties  and  perplexities  of  office  for  the  free  and  unrestrained 
enjoyment  of  country  pleasures,  In  this  case,  it  may  be 
emphatically  said,  that  "the  child  was  father  of  the  man." 
Although  there  is  little  reason  to  suppose  that  George  was 
a  child  of  brilliant  qualities — of  very  precocious  genius, 
yet  in  tracing  the  connection  between  childhood  and  man 
hood,  we  see  the  opening  bud  giving  promise  of  rare 
fruit  in  its  maturity.  Anecdotes  illustrative  of  his  can 
did,  generous  nature,  his  love  of  truth  and  daring  exploits 
in  his  youth,  are  too  well  known  to  need  repetition. 
Physiognomists  speak  of  a  face  "full  of  expression  and 
seriousness,  a  clear  blue  eye,  a  winning  smile,  and  a  tall 
and  rather  slender  figure."  He  had  but  one  sister,  and 
she  bearing  a  striking  resemblance,  though  less  command 
ing  in  person.  George  seems  to  have  been  the  favorite  in 
the  family  circle.  Especially  he  seems  to  have  had  a 
peculiar  shrine  in  the  maternal  heart,  and  the  faithfulness 
with  which  he  was  wont  to  perform  his  devotions  there, 
but  tended  to  confirm  the  feeling  that  prompted  the  par 
tiality.  When  she  first  folded  the  infant  George  to  her 


•vC«    ©if'  WASHllWC'IL'Gfei 


LIFE    OF   WASHINGTON.  491 

bosom,  she  was  young  and  beautiful,  but  far  enough 
removed  from  the  vain  and  frivolous  ideas  which  charac 
terize  so  many  thus  endowed.  On  the  contrary,  she  was 
remarkable  for  her  judicious  firmness,  her  method  of  dis 
cipline,  and  grave  and  sensible  opinions  of  the  true  aim 
of  life.  All  this  told  upon  the  mind  and  conscience  of 
the  youthful  George,  and  won  him  over  to  the  practice  of 
unconditional  obedience.  It  was  under  the  eye  of  such  a 
mother — ever  loving  and  watchful ; — under  the  mild  re 
straint  of  such  a  being — ever  thoughtful  and  kind,  that 
were  formed  those  strong  predilections  for  domestic  life 
that  make  the  delightful  background  of  this  life-picture. 
The  associations  of  those  halcyon  days  with  this  loving, 
guiding  spirit,  became  the  choicest  memories  when,  in 
after  years,  he  was  immersed  in  the  strife  and  cares  inci 
dent  to  high  position,  and  the  labor  it  necessarily  in 
volves. 

While  George  was  very  young,  his  home  was  trans 
ferred  from  the  banks  of  the  loved  Potomac,  to  the  vicinity 
of  the  Rappahannock,  and  there  in  an  old  school  house, 
nestled  among  the  pines,  he  commenced  his  experience  in 
the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  under  a  master  as  rough  and 
rude  as  the  surroundings,  and  those  familiar  with  the  his 
tory  of  schools  and  school-houses  at  tins  period  of  our 
country,  know  well  what  these  were.  It  was  what  was 
then  denominated  a  "  field  school,"  similar  to  those  in  the 
older  country  known  as  "Lodge  Schools,"  a  name  which 
sufficiently  indicates  its  character.  The  spelling-book, 
and  the  testament  were  the  only  books  to  be  found  on  the 
master's  schedule  at  that  time,  and  when  we  think  that 
the  latter  is  the  beginning  and  end  of  all  wisdom,  why 
need  we  wonder  that  a  thoughtful,  faithful  boy  like 
George  Washington,  should  come  forth  eminently  fitted 
for  a  great  work,  from  a  school  of  so-called  narrow  pre 
tensions?  Hobby,  the  teacher — one,  however,  who  does 
not  seem  to  be  particularly  discerning,  failed  at  the  time 
to  observe  any  thing  peculiar  in  the  blue-eyed  boy  on  the 
rude  bench  before  him,  but  in  his  declining  years,  when 
the  goal  of  distinction  had  been  won  by  his  illustrious 
pupil  he  was  wont  to  descant  with  no  little  pride  on  the 
part  he  acted  with  such  success  in  laying  the  foundation 
of  such  greatness.  As  to  the  matter  of  indebtedness  con- 
32 


492  LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

cerning  real  acquisitions  at  this  early  age,  however,  there 
is  little  question,  for  we  incline  to  award  quite  as  much  to 
the  daily  readings  of  the  mother  with  her  children,  as  to 
the  limited  teachings  of  "Old  Hobby."  A  well-worn  vol 
ume,  by  Matthew  Hale,  bearing  the  title  of  "Contempla 
tions,  Moral  and  Divine,"  might  often  have  been  found  in 
the  hands  of  the  careful  and  prudent  mother,  and  among 
her  eager  listeners,  her  favorite  George,  and  to  these  treas 
ured  maxims  and  precepts  may  be  attributed  in  some 
good  measure  that  wise  and  safe  policy  which  governed 
him  in  mature  years,  and  through  him  blessed  the  world. 

Who  shall  lightly  speak  of  influence?  How  little  Mrs. 
Washington  thought  of  the  ever-widening  circles — how 
much  they  would  embrace,  while  she  was  thus  engaged ! 
George  was  brought  more  particularly  within  her  sphere 
of  influence  by  the  early  death  of  his  father,  which  de 
prived  him  of  counsel  in  this  direction  at  the  age  of 
eleven.  The  deep  sense  of  responsibility  which  took 
possession  of  the  widowed  heart  as  it  realized  the  mourn 
ful  fact  that  it  was  the  sole  guide  of  five  immortals,  devel 
oped,  as  some  think,  a  sternness  which  left  its  impress 
upon  her  children,  but  we  can  not  think  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  deficient  in  tenderness  and  sympathy — those 
qualities  so  necessary  to  complete  any  character,  and  cir 
cumstances  that  may  hereafter  appear,  will  doubtless  prove 
the  suspicion  which  some  have  whispered,  unfounded. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  George  was  sent  again  to 
school — to  Bridge's  Creek — the  place  of  his  early  home, 
where  things  were  conducted  on  a  larger  scale  than  in  the 
little  institution  among  the  pines,  inasmuch  as  grammar 
and  mathematics  were  taught  by  a  competent  instructor. 
Foremost  among  the  scholars  here,  v^s  our  incipient  hero. 
On  all  occasions  he  became  the  standard  of  appeal,  and  in 
differences  of  opinion,  and  divisions  of  actions  the  almost 
universal  ejaculation  was  heard,  "ask  George  Washing 
ton,  an'd  whatever  he  says  is  right,  we'll  agree  to."  He 
became  a  leader  in  their  sports,  which  told  plainly  the 
direction  his  mind  was  taking.  Every  thing  took  on  a 
military  form; — the  martial  spirit  was  constantly  visible. 
He  had  seen  his  brother  fitted  out  for  the  wars ;  he  had 
heard  the  spirited  reports  which  came  from  him  of  the 
warlike  scenes  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  it  was  kind- 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  493 

ling  like  enthusiasm  in  his  own  nature,  and  it  was  his* 
delight  and  pride  to  form  his  school  companions  into  mil 
itary  companies,  and  with  miniature  muskets  and  drums, 
lead  them  on  to  his  imaginary  battles.  Thoughtful  plan 
ning  was  strikingly  manifest,  even  here,  as  those  bands 
were  almost  always  arrayed  against  each  other,  as  English 
and  French,  George  always  commanding  the  former, 
though  his  peace-loving  spirit  taking  care  that  the  antago 
nism  should  be  only  seeming,  as  he  was  skillful  to  prevent 
quarrels.  He  had  a  decided  taste  for  athletic  exercises  of 
all  kinds,  and  various  feats  of  agility  and  strength  are 
related  of  him  that  partake  somewhat  of  the  marvelous 
in  those  his  school  days.  The  teacher  of  Bridge-creek 
school,  like  Hobby,  had  no  little  pedantry,  and  personal 
pride,  and  was  wont  to  glorify  self,  as  well  as  his  pupil  by 
remarking  to  the  people  that  he  had  "made  George  Wash 
ington  as  good  a  scholar  as  himself."  To  say  the  least  he 
made  signal  progress  in  branches  scarcely  attempted  by 
those  of  his  age,  especially  in  those  times,  and  what  is 
more  remarkable,  is,  to  find  in  the  unsettled  penmanship 
of  a  boyish  hand  of  thirteen,  a  list  of  rules  and  regula 
tions  seemingly  culled  from  various  sources,  relating  to 
conversation,  etiquette,  &c.,  by  which  to  shape  a  graceful 
as  well  as  noble  character.  Scrupulous  regard  for  these 
things  seemed  to  be  in-breathed,  as  it  were,  into  his  nature 
from  the  first,  and  became  a  distinguishing  trait  ere  he 
had  scarce  emerged  from  childhood.  He  was  at  this  time 
spending  his  days  with  his  brother  Lawrence  who  had  lo 
cated  himself  in  the  vicinity  of  his  early  home,  because 
bright  eyes  and  a  loving  heart  had  kept  him  there,  not 
withstanding  a  previous  determination  had  led  him  to 
form  plans  of  going  to  England  for  the  sake  of  promotion 
in  the  army,  which  he  had  reason  to  expect.  A  captain's 
commission  was  already  in  his  hands,  but  the  attractive 
person  and  amiable  virtues  of  Miss  Anne  Fairfax  took 
stronger  hold  of  his  affections,  and  the  prospect  of  fame 
was  relinquished  for  a  quiet  and  pleasant  home  in  Fairfax 
county — a  district  bearing  the  name  of  the  ancestors  of 
his  fair  lady,  thus  showing  the  standing  maintained  of 
more  than  ordinary  distinction  by  the  new  relations 
formed  by  the  family.  They  mingled  in  refined  and  cul 
tivated  society,  and  the  peculiar  attachment  of  Lawrence 


494:  LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

•for  his  younger  brother,  secured  for  him  all  the  advan 
tages  to  be  derived  from  such  connection. 

Lord  Fairfax,  father-in-law  of  the  elder  brother  owned 
a  fine  situation  in  close  proximity  to  Mt.  Vernon,  and  in 
this  way  was  gained  introduction  to  persons  of  wealth 
and  distinction  in  the  latter  place,  that  proved  of  great 
interest,  and  controlling  importance  to  the  ambitious 
youth,  who  already  began  to  thirst  for  enterprise.  He 
had  an  eye  upon  the  British  navy,  and  the  desire  was  fos 
tered  by  his  brother,  and  enlisting  the  feelings  of  the  influ 
ential  friends  about  him,  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  se 
cured,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  the  object  of  his  hopes 
seemed  about  to  be  realized.  A  ship-of-war  was  in  actual 
vision,  and  desire  was  strong  for  the  floating  home,  but 
more  for  the  glory  to  which  it  would  bear  him.  What 
now  would  prevent  the  glad  fulfillment  of  his  dreams? 
His  own  spirit  was  glowing  at  the  prospect,  but  there  was 
another  to  whom  the  tidings  came  as  a  crushing  blow  to 
fond  hopes.  The  loving  mother  could  not  speed  her 
favorite  son  on  such  a  devious  way — could  not  consent  to 
such  a  parting  with  the  son  of  her  warmest  affection,  and 
filial  piety  was  stronger  in  the  heart  of  the  one  she  had  so 
tenderly  nurtured,  than  the  love  of  glory,  excited  as  that 
had  become.  He  yielded  all  that  seemed  so  fascinating  to 
his  youthful  imagination,  to  the  affectionate  solicitations 
of  his  only  surviving  parent,  and  while  we  admire  the 
beauty  of  the  spirit  that  made  the  sacrifice,  we  discern 
also  the  workings  of  a  higher  power,  that  had  other  things 
in  reserve,  demanding  a  still  further  work  of  preparation 
for  its  worthy  accomplishment.  With  the  consciousness 
of  duty  performed,  George  turned  again  to  school  with 
the  purpose  of  preparing  himself  to  enter  upon  the  com 
paratively  humble  business  of  surveying,  in  connection 
with  the  ordinary  duties  and  occupations  of  life  on  a 
plantation. 

He  had  inherited  from  his  father  the  house  and  lands 
on  the  last  named  river,  and  it  was  to  the  cultivation  and 
enjoyment  of  this  that  his  mother's  aspirations  for  him 
tended.  lie  seems  to  have  conformed  somewhat  to  this 
in  his  own  mind,  at  the  abandonment  of  his  navy  project, 
and  applied  himself  with  characteristic  energy  to  his  new 
study,  the  application  of  which,  he  soon  had  an  opportu- 


LIFE    OF   WASHINGTON.  495 

nity  to  test  quite  to  his  satisfaction,  by  a  commission  from 
lord  Fairfax,  to  make  out  a  complete  account  and  descrip 
tion  of  immense  tracts  of  mountain  land,  which  the  no 
bleman  owned  in  the  back  part  of  Virginia.  Great  care 
and  strict  method  were  manifest  in  all  his  affairs — equally 
scrupulous  in  the  measurement  of  the  plat  around  his 
school  building,  as  that  of  uncounted  acres,  and  their 
remarkable  manifestation  so  pleased  the  wealthy  lord, 
that  he  gave  him,  in  company  with  his  nephew,  the  ardu 
ous  task  of  exploring  the  wild  woodlands  among  the 
Alleghanian  mountains.  This  was  no  pleasure  excursion, 
but  one  involving  great  fatigue  and  hardship,  as  well  as 
great  danger.  Tribes  of  ferocious  Indians  claimed  the 
forests  as  their  own,  at  that  time,  and  the  white  man  who 
dared  to  be  found  within  their  borders  was  exposed  to 
such  treatment  as  the  savage  and  jealous  inhabitants 
might  dictate.  With  much  that  an  adventurous  youth 
might  call  pleasing  incident — certainly  with  a  variety  of 
scenes  among  people  that  would  not  speak  English  if  they 
could,  he  spent  a  month  of  springtime,  rarely  finding  the 
luxury  of  a  shelter  at  night,  but  well  satisfied  with  the 
object  and  the  result  of  his  undertaking.  For  three  years 
he  accustomed  himself  to  a  similar  mode  of  life,  though 
making  but  short  trips  without  returning  to  the  settle 
ments  to  recruit,  on  account  of  the  great  privation  and 
exposure  to  which  he  was  subjected,  and  even  with  this 
precaution  he  did  not  escape  constitutional  injury,  the 
influence  of  which  he  felt  through  life.  lie  was  still 
young,  it  must  be  remembered,  though  his  appearance 
was  in  advance  of  his  years.  One  would  scarcely  have 
dreamed  that  such  a  tall  and  dignified  figure  was  in  pos 
session  of  a  youth  of  sixteen; — that  such  ability  for  ardu 
ous  and  complicated  schemes  existed  in  that  youthful 
mind,  but  some  are  born  to  unwonted  achievements,  and 
every  step  in  their  pathway  is  but  a  link  in  the  great 
chain  of  preparation  which  they  unconsciously  forge  for 
efficient  use  in  practical  life  as  occasion  requires. 

To  this  period  of  his  history,  or  nearly  this,  are  related 
some  developments  that  show  his  heart  was  not  altogether 
composed  of  stern  material,  but  of  a  texture  susceptible 
of  softer  emotion.  A  "lowland  beauty,"  had  passed  be 
fore  him,  and  the  loveliness  of  the  vision  abided  with  him. 


496  LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

The  image  was  daguerreotyped  upon  his  heart,  but  the  idea 
of  a  more  palpable  union  was  hopeless,  and  for  a  time  he 
gave  way  to  the  expression  of  those  despairing  regrets 
which  are  the  food  of  love,  beside  resorting  to  the  muses 
for  relief — that  frequent  resort  of  enamored  souls.  If, 
before,  he  had  been  liable  to  the  charge  of  undue  stern 
ness,  this,  at  least,  shows  that  he  had  tenderness  in  reserve. 
But  this  state  of  feeling  was  not  of  long  duration,  or  suf 
fered  to  incapacitate  him  for  the  duties  of  his  calling. 
Business  increased,  became  profitable,  owing  in  a  great 
measure  to  the  friendly  aid  of  lord  Fairfax,  with  whom, 
and  his  family  he  was  on  terms  of  delightful  intimacy, 
which  counted  to  his  pleasure  and  profit. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Appointment  as  Adjutant-General — voyage  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  in 
valid  brother — comes  into  possession  of  Mt.  Vernon — Masonic  member 
ship — Eulogy  of  Dr.  Tyng — Dinwiddie's  commission — meeting  with  Mary 
Philipsc — with  Mrs.  Custis — their  marriage — death  of  the  daughter — dele 
gate  to  Congress — appointed  general. 

THE  nineteenth  year  of  Washington's  life,  1751,  was  to 
be  an  important  era  in  his  history.  The  laurels  of  honor, 
which  were  already  being  twined  about  his  brow,  were  to 
grow  brighter  and  thicker,  until  they  should  weave  them 
selves  into  an  ornament  not  equaled  by  any  worn  by  the 
proudest  aspirants  for  the  prize  which  fame  has  to  give. 
There  was  also,  this  important  difference  in  the  honor  con 
ferred  upon  this  man,  and  that  of  many  others, — it  came 
unsought  by  himself — it  came  because  of  the  ease  and  grace 
with  which  he  carried  it ; — because  merit  demanded  it. 

The  influence  of  his  brother,  and  other  friends,  was 
again  used  to  secure  for  him  an  important  post — that  of 
adjutant-general  for  the  state  of  Virginia.  It  was  gained, 
and  indeed  it  seemed  that  the  very  name  of  Washington 
had  a  charm  in  its  sound  that  operated  as  a  sufficient  re 
commendation  at  all  such  times  when  high  places  were 
waiting  to  be  filled.  What  comes  to  others  by  a  slow  and 
tedious  process,  came  to  him,  as  if  he  had  a  native  right 
to  be  above  and  beyond  all  his  compeers.  Lawrence 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  497 

Washington  had  himself  held  this  position,  and  aban 
doned  it  by  reason  of  failing  health.  It  carried  with  it, 
also,  the  rank  of  major,  and  the  pay  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  a  year.  The  duties  involved  were  such  as 
fully  to  gratify  the  martial  spirit  of  him  who  was  called 
to  their  performance.  The  people  of  the  state  were  ex 
ceedingly  annoyed  by  the  Indian  tribes  on  their  frontiers, 
and  not  less  so  by  the  seemingly  hostile  intentions  of  the 
French  who  were  constantly  making  encroachments,  indi 
cative  of  a  design  to  establish  themselves  in  such  a  man 
ner  as  to  allow  of  the  planning  and  execution  of  measures 
by  which  they  might  extend  their  empire  over  the  inviting 
fields  of  the  western  country.  Companies  of  militia  were 
to  be  gathered,  and  trained  for  efficient  service ;  their 
arms  to  be  duly  inspected,  and  the  whole  body  carefully 
and  wisely  disciplined.  The  young  major  had  the  requis 
ite  power  at  his  command,  and  was  full  of  enthusiasm  in 
the  purpose  -of  repelling  the  hostile  invaders.  Peculiar 
efficiency  marked  his  course  to  such  an  extent  as  almost 
immediately  to  win  the  highest  confidence  of  the  governor 
and  his  council,  and  place  his  name  first  on  the  list  -of 
those  entitled  to  promotion  when  occasion  called  for  par 
ticular  trustworthiness.  But  human  experience  is  a 
chequered  thing.  Trials  and  duties — satisfaction  and 
grief  are  strange.ly  mingled.  In  the  midst  of  his  good 
fortune,  Washington  found  himself  obliged  to  turn  aside 
from  his  public  duties,  to  the  domestic  fireside  of  his 
brother — he  who  had  zealously  sought  his  prosperity 
and  elevation,  and  was  now  threatened  with  a  disease 
that  was  to  undermine  the  foundations  of  life,  if  not 
arrested.  With  grateful  tenderness,  peculiarly  becom 
ing,  the  demand  was  cheerfully  met,  or  what  savors  less 
of  compulsion,  the  opportunity  was  gladly  received  to 
offer  the  ministrations  of  love.  A  voyage  to  the  West 
Indies,  was  the  proposed  remedy  for  the  declining  brother, 
and  George  relinquished  all  for  the  time,  to  become  the 
companion  of  the  invalid.  Seeing  him  comfortably  set 
tled,  and  having  provided  the  necessary  care,  he  returned 
to  await  the  invigorating  effects  of  the  genial  climate  on 
the  depressed  system.  Unhappily  they  were  not  realized, 
and  the  two  brothers  never  met  again.  Lawrence  re 
turned,  but  scarce  had  he  looked  upon  the  skies  that  bent 


498  LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

over  his  own  beloved  home,  before  the  inexorable  messen 
ger  summoned  him  away  from  mortal  scenes,  to  mingle 
with  the  invisible  scenes  of  eternity.  To  George  he  had 
been  father  and  guide,  since  the  day  that  death  took  this 
counselor  from  him,  and  the  stroke  was  severe  indeed. 
The  relations  however,  seemed  to  induce  no  feeling  of  in 
feriority,  or  servile  dependence,  as  is  evident  from  the 
fact,  that  the  younger  brother  was  the  chosen  one  for  the 
superintendence  of  business,  and  the  charge  of  maintain 
ing  and  caring  for  the  bereaved  family — the  widow  and  a 
sickly  daughter ; — and  that  in  case  of  their  death  the  will 
declared  the  estate  of  Mt.  Yernon  the  property  of  George. 
On  the  marriage  of  the  former,  and  the  decease  of  the 
latter,  it  came  into  his  hands, — henceforth  to  be  forever 
associated  with  his  name, — to  be  visited  by  thousands 
with  kindred  spirit  to  Mahomet's  pilgrims  at  Mecca's 
shrine, — to  become  eventually  the  priceless  legacy  of  a 
free  and  grateful  people,  and  baptize  Virginia's  soil  with 
a  "sacred"  seal.  lie  very  soon  installed  himself  as  sole 
proprietor  of  the  fair  domain — commencing  a  system  of 
improvements  that  he  carried  on  during  most  of  his  life 
time,  all  the  while,  unconscious,  in  all  probability,  that 
Washington  and  Mt.  Yernon  were  to  become  the  talisma- 
nic  words  of  the  land.  Could  he  have  looked  down  the 
long  vista  of  years  and  beheld  a  continent,  and  more  than 
a  continent,  illuminated  with  the  glory  of  his  name,  we 
can  scarce  conceive  what  his  emotions  would  have  been. 
It  seems  his  great  soul  would  have  turned  in  devout  and 
grateful  acknowledgment  to  the  one  source  of  all  great 
ness  on  high,  for  ambition  like  his  we  are  sure  would 
never  have  selfishly  labored  for  such  an  end,  for  no  other 
purpose  than  individual  glory.  In  the  early  days  of  his 
Mt.  Yernon  life,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra 
ternity,  and  as  usual,  was  advanced  from  one  place  of 
honor  to  another,  until  we  find  it  at  last  culminating  in 
the  act  of  laying  the  corner  stone  of  the  Capitol,  at  Wash 
ington,  as  Grand  Master  of  the  Masons  of  the  United 
States.  The  body  are  still  proud  of  their  illustrious 
member,  and  an  eulogy  of  a  masonic  friend  of  modern 
times,  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng,  may  be  interesting  to  those  who 
are  pleased  to  regard  the  connection:  "Never  was  our 
fundamental  principle  of  justice  more  beautifully  or  per- 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  499 

fectly  realized  by  man.  Every  foot  of  his  wall  was  built 
in  rigid  conformity  to  the  square  and  the  plummet.  You 
may  trace  the  principle  in  all  his  own  private  accounts. 
To  be  in  debt  was,  in  his  judgment,  to  be  in  slavery,  a 
slavery  to  which  no  Freemason  could  be  honorably  sub 
jected.  For  years  his  books  were  kept  by  his  own  hands, 
in  the  most  beautiful  style  of  neatness  and  punctuality. 
He  maintained  a  perfect  oversight  of  his  own  business, 
detecting  any  mismagernent  or  carelessness  in  others,  and 
habitually  choosing  never  to  rely  upon  others  to  do  that 
which  he  could  do  himself.  In  his  management  of  public 
trusts,  daring  the  whole  eight  years'  campaign  of  the 
Revolution,  he  kept  an  account  of  all  expenditures  in  the 
public  service,  and  exhibited  them  in  his  own  hand  wri 
ting  to  Congress,  at  the  close  of  the  war;  not  only  refus 
ing  any  remuneration  for  the  services  he  had  performed, 
but  faithfully  declaring  himself  largely  a  willing  loser, 
in  amounts  of  his  own  private  funds,  which  had  been  ex 
pended  in  the  public,  service.  Nor  was  he  less  distin 
guished  by  one  other  great  principle,  love,  which  wrought 
in  beneficence  to  the  needy,  in  forgiveness  to  the  penitent, 
in  the  kindest  and  most  liberal  construction  of  the  motives 
and  characters  of  other  men;  in  the  strongest  emotions 
of  private  friendship,  and  in  the  perfect  toleration  of  the 
religious  conscience  of  mankind."  To  return  from  this 
digression — notwithstanding  Washington's  love  of  domes 
tic  life,  and  his  satisfaction  in  the  occupations  about  his 
new  gained  home,  he  had  no  disposition  to  neglect  the 
calls  of  the  public.  He  traveled,  himself,  through  the 
various  counties  of  his  district  to  receive  and  organize 
recruits  to  be  employed  in  subduing  the  French  and  Indi 
ans  who  were  becoming  still  more  bold  in  their  insolence, 
and  resisted  all  overtures  made  to  them.  Dinwiddie,  the 
governor,  sent  messengers  with  presents  to  conciliate  the 
latter,  and  orders  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  what  were  the 
designs  of  the  former,  but  of  no  avail,  owing  somewhat 
to  the  unskillful  ness  of  the  originator  of  the  plan,  and  the 
incompetence  of  those  commissioned  for  so  important  and 
delicate  an  errand.  At  this  crisis  of  affairs  the  magistrate 
betook  himself  to  the  young  major,  and  an  extract  from 
the  commission  given  him,  shows  the  feelings  and  motives 
that  prompted  the  appointment.  Under  the  hand  and 


500  LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

seal  of  the  governor  are  these  words: — "I,  reposing  espe 
cial  trust  and  confidence  in  the  ability,  conduct  and  fidel 
ity  of  you,  the  said  George  Washington,  have  appointed 
you  nry  express  messenger;  and  you  are  hereby  author 
ized  and  empowered  to  proceed  hence,  with  all  convenient 
and  possible  dispatch,  to  that  part  or  place  on  the  river 
Ohio,  where  the  French  have  lately  erected  a  fort  or  forts, 
or  where  the  commandant  of  the  French  forces  reside,  in 
order  to  deliver  my  letter  and  message  to  him;  and  after 
waiting,  not  exceeding  one  week  for  an  answer,  you  are 
to  take  leave  and  return  immediately  back."  With  char 
acteristic  promptness  Washington  immediately  set  him 
self  about  the  work  of  preparation  for  a  journey  of  five 
hundred  and  sixty  miles,  on  horseback,  through  woods 
and  over  almost  inaccessible  mountains,  with  the  dreary 
prospect  full  before  him,  that  night  would  bring  him  no 
shelter  but  the.  canopy  of  heaven,  and  no  rest  but  that 
obtained  upon  the  bare  earth,  and  that,  too,  at  the  risk  of 
"unwelcome  disturbance  from  ever  watchful  foes.  Not 
intimidated,  however,  he  set  out  with  a  party  of  eight  on 
the  last  day  of  the  autumnal  month,  October,  and  for  a 
fortnight  resolutely  wended  his  way  over  the  snowy  Alle- 
ghanies — across  the  swelling  rivers  of  the  intervening 
valleys,  until  he  found  himself  at  the  home  of  the  chief 
whom  he  sought. 

Through  an  interpreter  a  council  was  immediately  held, 
the  red  man's  grievances  presented  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
objectof  the  embassy  fully  explained  on  the  other.  The  so- 
called  Indian  king  was  strenuous  for  a  longer  delay  of  the 
white  man's  party,  and  fearful  that  a  refusal  might  defeat 
the  purpose  of  the  mission,  they  yielded.  Having  suitably 
perfected  matters,  the  homeward  track  was  resumed,  and 
painful  and  perilous,  indeed,  it  became  on  account  of  fast- 
falling  snows,  and  long,  cold  rains.  The  men  grew  stiff 
and  weary  by  exposure  to  the  elements ;  the  horses  inca 
pable  of  active  service,  and  Washington,  anxious  to  ex 
pedite  affairs,  and  report  the  result  of  his  mission  to  the 
rightful  authority,  took  with  him  a  single  companion  ; — 
a  gun,  the  necessary  papers  and  provisions  in  a  knapsack, 
and  started  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  December,  to  tread  his 
trackless  way,  on  foot,  through  the  wilderness.  Such 
adventures  met  them  here,  as  to  lead  this  brave  man  to 


LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON.  501 

pronounce  the  journey  as  including  more  of  fatigue  and 
hardship  than  he  had  ever  known.  They  were  fired  at  by 
the  Indians; — Washington  found  himself  violently  pre 
cipitated  in  ten  feet  of  water  while  attempting  to  cross  an 
ice-cold  stream,  on  a  frail  raft  of  their  own  construction, 
and  his  guide  and  friend  suffered  from  frozen  fingers  and 
toes.  The  16th  of  January,  however,  found  them  again 
at  home,  but  only  to  open  new  phases  of  military  life  to 
the  trusty  hero.  Two  companies  were  ordered  to  resist 
the  encroachments  of  those  they  had  not  been  able  to  win 
over  to  submission,  and  Washington  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  these  troops.  The  present  limits  will  not  allow 
a  recital  of  his  brave  conduct; — the  indomitable  energy 
and  steadfast  purpose  manifest  on  this  occasion.  Duty 
was  always  paramount  with  him,  but  amid  all  these  war 
like  scenes,  the  revelations  of  his  spirit  show  how  gladly 
he  would  have  escaped  from  them  all,  and  fled  to  the 
peaceful  shades  he  loved,  if  it  had  been  equally  well  for 
the  country  he  adored.  "I  can  truly  say  I  had  rather  be 
at  Mt.  Vernon,"  said  he,  "  with  a  friend  or  two  about  me, 
than  to  be  attended,  at  the  seat  of  government,  by  the 
oflicers  of  state,  and  the  representatives  of  every  power  in 
Europe."  This  certainly  leaves  no  doubt  as  to  the  bent 
of  his  inclinations. 

In  1756,  in  consequence  of  some  difficult  question  of 
subordination,  incident  to  the  preparation  of  a  new  cam 
paign,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  consult  Col.  Shirley, 
then  residing  at  Boston — a  man  of  rare  judgment  and 
ability,  and  Washington  was  the  man  for  the  hour.  A 
path  of  five  hundred  miles  was  again  to  be  traversed,  and 
in  the  depth  of  winter.  It  was  accomplished  with  satis 
factory  results,  and  next  we  hear  of  the  commander  is  his 
agreeable  entertainment  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Beverly 
Robinson,  of  N.  Y.,  and  his  extreme  delight  in  the  society 
of  Miss  Mary  Philipse,  sister  of  his  host.  Not  all  the 
"pornp  and  circumstance  of  war,"  could  repress  the  desire 
in  his  bosom  for  the  tender  ministrations  of  love.  He 
fancied  the  brilliant  and  charming  Mary  the  worthy  mis 
tress  of  his  mountain  home,  and  imagined  himself  a  happy 
man  could  he  bask  in  her  smiling  presence,  and  enjoy  the 
pleasures  her  refined  and  genial  taste  would  surely  impart. 
The  soldier  became  a  lover,  but  while  he  essayed  to  lay 


502  LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

his  honors  at  her  feet,  the  spell  was  broken  by  the  knowl 
edge  that  the  heart  was  preoccupied. 

Capt.  Morris,  of  .Braddock's  aides,  was  the  successful 
rival,  and  Washington  again  became  absorbed  in  his 
military  profession.  His  career,  either  in  war  or  love 
was  not  always  one  of  brilliant  success.  He  had  reverses 
in  both.  So  deeply  they  weighed  upon  his  spirits  in  the 
former  case,  he  was  almost  tempted  to  resign  his  commis 
sions,  and  give  up  the  contest,  not  from  any  want  of  per 
sonal  bravery,  but  because  of  the  reproaches  of  some  who 
rose  up  against  him  for  a  time.  These,  however,  were 
more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  encouragement  of  his 
friends.  "Your  good  health  and  fortune,"  said  Col.  Fair 
fax,  "are  the  toast  of  every  table.  Among -the  Romans, 
such  a  general  acclamation  and  public  regard,  shown  to 
any  of  the  chieftains,  were  always  esteemed  a  high  honor, 
and  gratefully  accepted." 

Mr.  Robinson,  speaker  of  the  house  of  Burgesses — a 
personal  friend  wrote  thus  when  the  idea  was  pending. 
"Our  hopes,  dear  George,  are  all  fixed  on  you,  for  bring 
ing  our  affairs  to  a  happy  issue.  Consider  of  what  fatal 
consequence  to  your  country,  your  resigning  your  com 
mission  at  this  time  may  be ;  more  especially  as  there  is 
no  doubt  most  of  the  officers  would  follow  your  example." 
Such  testimonials  were  cheering  to  the  spirit  that  was 
allowed,  for  a  brief  period,  to  be  despondent,  but  they 
were  not  in  season  to  turn  back  the  disease  thereby  in 
duced,  or  at  least  aggravated.  Trial  and  fatigue  had  done 
their  work,  and  four  months  confinement  at  Mt.  Vernon 
was  the  consequence.  Whether  he  felt  more  than  ever 
before  the  need  of  some  fair  hand  to  smooth  his  pillow, 
some  enlivening  presence  to  fill  the  sanctuary  of  home, 
we  know  not,  but  we  infer  as  much,  from  the  fact  that 
in  the  first  of  his  travels,  soon  after  his  escape  from  the 
prescribed  bounds  of  the  invalid,  we  find  him  making 
suit  to  a  fair  lady  with  whom  he  became  enamored  at  first 
sight.  The  expedition  to  Fort  Duquesne  was  on  foot,  and 
in  the  course  of  it  he  was  introduced  to  the  fascinating 
Mrs.  Custis,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Chamberlayne — a  planter 
on  York  river.  She  was  a  widow  of  two  years,  with  two 
children,  and  a  large  estate,  of  which  she  was  the  sole 
guardian  and  executrix.  Lovely  and  fascinating,  she 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  503 

made  an  impression  at  once  upon  the  heart  of  Washing 
ton,  and  by  good  fortune,  the  proposal  was  accepted,  and 
the  union  consummated  on  the  6th  of  January,  1759, 
when  the  distinguished  bridegroom  was  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  After  three  months  of  wedded  bliss  at  the 
White  House, — a  country  seat  on  York  river,  they  trans 
ferred  their  associations  to  the  quiet  shades  of  Vernon, 
that  were  to  become  doubly  dear  to  the  proprietor  for  the 
hallowed  presence  that  was  to  heighten  the  blessings. 
They  commenced  housekeeping  in  the  plantation  style  of 
the  times,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  did  there  exist  a  household 
combining  so  much  in  itself  as  this.  All  that  the  world 
had  to  give,  was  showered  upon  that  youthful  pair.  Love, 
wealth,  beauty,  power  and  distinction  all  clustered  in  that 
now  happy  mansion.  Washington  became  nearly  en 
grossed  in  the  affairs  of  domestic  life  for  a  considerable 
period  subsequent  to  his  marriage.  Gayety,  dress,  and  a 
due  regard  to  the  fashions  of  the  day,  are  among  the  rec 
ords  of  this  comparatively  uneventful  time.  The  taste 
of  the  man  for  home  pleasures  had  full  gratification.  The 
children  of  his  adoption  shared  largely  in  his  affections. 
They  became  the  objects  of  his  tender,  and  ever  watchful 
solicitude,  and  were  indulged  in  a  manner  that  a  large 
fortune,  only',  allowed.  But,  in  the  moment  when  the 
tendrils  of  love  had  become  strongly  entwined  about  the 
loving  daughter,  the  ruthless  hand  of  death  unbound 
them,  and  left  them  bleeding  at  every  pore.  When  the 
impress  of  the  "dark-winged  angel"  was  fatally  fixed, 
Washington,  in  the  agony  of  his  grief,  fell  upon  his  knees 
at  her  side,  with  a  fervent  prayer  upon  his  lips,  that  the 
dart  might  be  stayed,  all  unconscious  at  the  time  that  it 
had  stilled  the  heart  it  had  already  pierced.  A  long  jour 
ney  of  exploration,  previous  to  the  purchase  of  western 
lands,  was  in  contemplation  at  the  time,  but  this  became 
secondary  to  the  grief  of  the  bereaved  and  mourning 
mother,  and  it  was  abandoned  for  the  purpose  of  adding 
comfort  to  her  in  her  affliction.  Extensive  hospitalities 
followed,  and  then  come  again  the  claims  of  country. 

At  the  doings  of  a  convention  in  1774,  seven  delegates 
were  appointed  to  a  general  Congress,  and  among  them, 
George  Washington.  In  obedience  to  the  summons,  he 
tore  himself  from  the  scenes  he  loved,  and  proceeded  to 


504  LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

Philadelphia,  in  company  with  Patrick  Henry,  and  Ed 
mund  Pendleton.  But  little  is  known  of  the  deliberations 
of  that  body,  but  they  were  sufficient  in  connection  with 
one,  to  draw  forth  the  reply  from  the  well-known  orntor, 
when  asked  whom  he  considered  the  greatest  man  in  Con 
gress — "If  you  speak  of  eloquence,  Mr.  Rutledge  of  South 
Carolina,  is  by  far  the  best  orator ;  but  if  you  speak  of 
solid  information  and  sound  judgment,  Colonel  Wash 
ington  is  unquestionably  the  greatest  man  on  that  floor." 

In  the  following  year,  it  became  evident,  that  a  great 
struggle  was  at  hand.  "Shall  Freedom  triumph,"  was 
the  all-absorbing  question  in  the  minds  of  the  people. 
"An  appeal  to  arms,  and  to  the  God  of  Hosts  is  all  that 
is  left  us;"  was  the  declaration  of  Patrick  Henry,  and  it 
seemed  the  popular  feeling.  It  became  evident  that  an 
army  must  be  raised,  and  where  was  the  competent  gen 
eral?  A  second  Congress  was  convened  to  take  matters 
into  consideration,  and  as  one  result,  appeared  the  unani 
mous  election  of  Washington  to  the  place,  as  the  one  best 
fitted  for  command.  Deeply  sensible  of  the  honor  awarded 
him  by  the  people,  it  was  yet  something  he  by  no  means 
coveted.  His  feelings,  on  the  occasion,  are  manifest  in  a 
brief  speech  made  at  the  time  of  the  announcement  of  the 
choice,  by  the  presiding  officer  of  the  Assembly.  After 
expressing  the  motives  that  induced  the  acceptance,  he 
concluded  by  saying — "As  to  pay,  sir,  I  beg  leave  to 
assure  the  Congress,  that  as  no  pecuniary  consideration 
could  have  tempted  me  to  accept  this  arduous  employ 
ment,  at  the  expense  of  my  domestic  ease  and  happiness.  I 
do  not  wish  to  make  any  profit  by  it.  I  will  keep  an  ex 
act  account  of  my  expenses.  Those,  I  doubt  not,  they 
will  discharge;  and  that  is  all  I  desire." 

The  intelligence  was  immediately  communicated  to  his 
wife,  and  in  a  manner  that  love  alone  could  dictate.  Sev 
eral  epistles  followed  this  first,  full  of  tender  concern — of 
affectionate  interest  for  the  one,  with  whom,  he  was  free 
to  say,  he  should  enjoy  more  real  happiness  within  one 
month,  at  home  than  he  should  find  abroad,  in  any  cir 
cumstances,  though  his  stay  should  be  prolonged  seven 
times  seven  years.  With  a  firm  trust  in  Providence,  how 
ever,  the  whole  was  sacrificed  and  the  duty  undertaken. 
On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  July,  the  troops  were  arrayed 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON".  505 

on  the  common,  at  Cambridge,  to  receive  their  general. 
At  length,  a  cloud  of  dust,  and  the  trampling  of  horses, 
betokened  the  approach  of  him  whom  the  eager  soldiers 
were  waiting  to  welcome.  Nearing  the  ranks,  he  rode 
rapidly  forward,  and  halting  under  the  shadow  of  a  great 
elm  that  stood  upon  the  spot,  he  drew  his  sword,  flashing 
it  in  the  air,  signifying  his  readiness  to  enter  upon  com 
mand  The  position  was  one  that  called  for  wisdom  and 
patience,  and  they  were  both  exemplified  in  the  chosen 
man.  The  new  made  soldiers  were  but  little  accustomed 
to  the  work,  and  needed  much  drilling;  he  had  but  short 
allowances  of  powder  granted  him;  works  of  defense 
were  to  be  thrown  up  here  and  there,  and  beside,  what 
was  worse  and  more  harassing,  officers  became  jealous, 
and  governors  exacting.  All  these  were  to  be  quieted  and 
held  in  check  by  the  general ;  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
watched  continually,  and  the  engagements  anticipated,  .if 
possible,  so  as  wisely  to  be  met,  and  if  equal  to  the  contest, 
he  was  skillful  indeed.  The  result  shows  for  itself. 

In  the  midst  of  these  varied  duties,  he  was  not  unmind 
ful  of  her  he  had  left  behind,  and  of  matters  of  domestic 
economy.  To  the  agent  intrusted  with  his  affairs  at 
home,  he  wrote  enjoining  hospitality  and  charity,  and  as 
evidence  of  his  exceedingly  benevolent  spirit,  if  any  is 
needed  after  his  magnanimous  declaration  in  Congress,  we 
quote  a  paragraph  from  the  letter  written  at  this  time. 
"I  have  no  objection  to  your  giving  my  money  in  charity, 
to  the  amount  of  forty  or  fifty  pounds  a  year,  when  you 
think  it  well  bestowed.  What  I  mean  by  having  no  ob 
jection  is,  that  it  is  my  desire  it  should  be  done." 

At  the  beginning,  it  was  hoped  by  the  general,  that 
matters  would  be  consummated  so  as  to  allow  him  to  re 
turn  to  the  bosom  of  his  family  by  autumn,  but  seeing  no 
prospect  of  this,  he  wrote  for  Sirs.  Washington  to  come  to 
him.  She  started  with  her  son,  now  recently  married,  in 
her  own  carriage,  and  occupied  nearly  a  month  with  the 
journey.  Great  honors  were  shown  her  as  the  lady  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  while  on  the  way,  and  her  arrival  at 
camp  was  the  dawning  of  a  new  day  for  the  soldiers.  It 
was  the  signal  for  the  advent  of  other  ladies  who  were 
waiting  the  opportunity  to  fly  to  their  lords,  and  forth 
with  was  inaugurated  a  social  reign  that  was  well  appre- 


506  LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON. 

ciated.  Washington  had  been  gaining  the  reputation  of 
being  unsocial  and  wanting  in  interest  in  those  about  him, 
and  it  was  operating  greatly  to  his  disadvantage.  The 
sunshine  of  smiling  faces  turned  the  tide  backward,  and 
saved  the  wearing  of  a  channel  that  might  have  been 
disastrous. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Crossing  the  Delaware — Washington's  "bravery — at  Congress— squirrel  hunt 
ing — moderation  in  victory — election  as  President — Trenton-bridge  recep 
tion — inauguration — re-election — return  to  Mt.  Vernon — illness  and  death 
— funeral  ceremonies  and  nation's  grief — opinions  of  Slavery — Will  in 
respect  to  it. 

As  the  season  advanced,  the  tide  seemed  ever  to  be 
turning  in  the  wrong  direction.  Washington's  army 
numbered  but  little  more  than  ten  thousand,  and  more 
than  half  of  these  were  sick  or  on  furlough.  With  this 
remnant  the  brave  general  conceived  the  purpose  of  cross 
ing  the  Delaware,  and  taking  the  British  by  surprise,  who 
were  then  lying  at  Trenton.  It  was  an  inclement  season, 
the  river  was  full  of  floating  masses  of  ice,  and  the  least 
disturbance  of  general  quiet  and  silence  might  result  in 
the  overthrow  of  the  whole  plan,  inducing  confusion,  if 
not  the  entire  destruction  of  the  small  yet  brave  band. 
On  a  stormy  December  morning,  the  troops  stood  upon 
the  eastern  shore,  with  their  general  at  the  head,  having 
made  their  tedious  and  perilous  way  through  the  freezing 
waters,  while  the  clouds  above  were  showering  hail  and 
snow  upon  their  defenseless  heads.  The  danger  and  expo 
sure  was  great,  but  the  object  in  view,  if  gained,  would 
amply  repay  them  for  the  risk.  Two  divisions  were 
started  to  attack  different  portions  of  the  town,  and  when, 
soon  after  their  departure,  the  commander  was  told  that 
not  only  men,  but  their  arms  were  cased  in  ice  and  sleet, 
the  word  was  still  "advance  and  charge,"  and  the  march 
of  thousands  quickened  at  the  sound,  though  every  step 
was  to  be  taken  amid  blinding  snow.  In  the  eyes  of 
Washington  much  depended  on  the  success  of  this  strug 
gle,  and  he  brought  all  his  resources  to  bear  upon  its  ac- 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  507 

complishment.  Personal  danger  was  an  idea  he  seemed 
to  place  wholly  out  of  the  question.  His  officers  remon 
strated, — his  friends  entreated,  but  notwithstanding  all,  he 
was  found  in  the  thickest  and  hottest  of  the  fight  cheering 
his  men  and  inspiring  their  courage  by  an  exhibition  of 
his  own.  Colonel  Fitzgerald,  an  Irishman  of  great  bra 
very,  and  one  of  the  General's  aides,  was  ordered  to  bring 
up  troops  from  the  rear  of  the  column.  On  returning  he 
was  no  where  greeted  by  a  sight  of  him  who  had  given 
the  word,  but  in  a  moment  the  parting  smoke  revealed 
his  form  gliding  among  the  ranks  broken  by  the  enemy, 
and  endeavoring  to  rally  them.  Failing  in  this  he  reined 
his  horse  directly  in  front  of  the  enemy,  evidencing  by 
his  action  that  his  spirit  preferred  death  to  dishonor  in  his 
country's  cause.  Horror-stricken  at  the  sight,  Fitzgerald 
dropped  the  bridle  on  the  neck  of  his  horse,  and  covered 
his  eyes  that  he  might  not  see  the  fall  of  his  beloved  com 
mander.  The  next  view,  however,  showed  him  still  erect, 
waving  his  hat,  and  shouting  hopes  of  victory  to  the  anx 
ious  troops.  "Thank  God!  your  Excellency  is  safe!" 
cried  the  warm-hearted  Irishman,  as  tears  of  joyful  sur 
prise  moistened  his  cheeks.  With  a  radiant  countenance 
and  a  grasp  of  the  hand,  AVashington  hurried  him  away 
to  bring  up  the  men,  saying,  with  an  air  of  confidence 
that  sent  a  thrill  of  delight  through  all  that  heard  it, — 
"the  day  is  our  own."  Warlike  scenes  were  destined  for 
these  men  for  a  long  time  to  come.  Mrs.  Washington 
still  remained  in  camp,  doing  numberless  kind  offices  for 
the  soldiers, — preparing  them  clothing  which  they  very 
much  needed,  and  rendering  aid  wherever  possible.  In 
the  winter  and  spring  of  1779,  quarters  were  stationed  at 
Mtddlebrook,  and  here  the  time  was  passed,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  five  weeks  at  Philadelphia,  in  conference  with 
Congress.  At  this  time  he  writes  of  his  strong  desire  for 
peace  and  quiet,  but  says,  also, — "the  affairs  of  the  army 
require  my  constant  attention  and  presence,  and  circum 
stanced  as  matters  are  at  this  time,  call  for  some  degree  of 
care  and  address  to  keep  it  from  crumbling.  As  peace 
and  retirement  are  my  ultimate  aim,  and  the  most  pleas 
ing  and  flattering  hope  of  my  soul,  every  thing  promo- 
tive  of  this  end  contributes  to  my  satisfaction,  however 
difficult  and  inconvenient  in  the  attainment,  and  will  re- 
33 


508  LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON. 

concile  any  place  and  all  circumstances  to  my  feelings, 
whilst  I  continue  in  service." 

Even  at  this  time  when  grave  responsibilities  were  pres 
sing  upon  him*,  he  took  occasion  to  relax  from  the  dignity 
of  his  profession,  and  find  recreation  in  the  sport  of  hunt 
ing,  for  which  he  had  quite  a  liking,  so  that  we  find  him 
at  one  time  the  attractive  speaker  on  the  floor  of  Con 
gress,  and  anon  an  unpretending  seeker  for  game  in  the 
wild  forests  of  the  vicinity  where  he  chanced  to  be.  The 
man  of  the  house  which  he  at  one  time  occupied,  had  a 
son  of  fifteen,  by  the  name  of  Cornelius,  who  was  in  the 
habit  of  waiting  upon  him.  He  was  not  a  little  proud  to 
be  accosted  thus  by  the  general  of  an  army,  "Come,  the 
day  is  so  fine,  suppose  we  see  if  we  can't  find  some  squir 
rels  this  morning;"  and  with  rifle  in  hand,  they  would 
travel  miles  together  for  this  end.  These,  however,  were 
but  brief  hours  of  rest,  alternating  with  the  many  marches 
against  the  ranks  of  a  human  foe  that  threatened  not  only 
every  thing  that  was  dear  to  life,  but  life  itself.  In  the 
summer  of  1781,  grand  preparations  were  made  by  the 
combined  armies  of  France  and  the  United  States,  for  a 
descent  upon  New  York.  With  the  former,  Count  Eo- 
chambeau  was  associated,  and  the  march  to  the  center  of 
operations  led  him,  with  Washington,  to  turn  aside  for  a 
hasty  visit  to  Mt.  Yernon.  What  wonder  if  the  bosom 
of  the  latter  yearned  for  a  glimpse  of  his  own  sweet  home! 
What  wonder  if  the  memories  of  the  past  swept  through 
his  soul,  stirring  the  most  ardent  longings  of  his  nature 
for  an  experience  of  those  same  joys  he  once  knew  !  For 
six  years  he  had  been  an  exile  from  the  place  where  his 
strong  affections  centered,  and  these  years  had  been  filled 
with  care,  anxiety  and  gloom.  But,  even  now,  after  so 
long  a  banishment  it  was  only  a  look  that  he  could  have, 
and  he  must  be  gone,  and  dark  uncertainty  rested  upon 
the  hope  of  a  speedy  return  to  the  peaceful  dwelling.  A 
holy  cause  still  urged  him  forward,  and  stilling  the  rising 
emotions — the  pleadings  of  selfishnes,  she  went,  obedient 
to  the  better  promptings  of  his  benevolent  soul — went  on 
to  victory  and  glory. 

The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Lord  Corn  wall  is,  the 
British  commander,  soon  spread  over  the  land,  sending  a 
thrill  of  joy  through  the  nation's  heart.  The  people  of 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  509 

America  in  the  first  flush  of  enthusiasm  felt  that  the  work 
was  done,  but  the  calm  and  calculating  spirit  of  the  chief 
commander  saw  yet  more  to  be  accomplished.  His  first 
order  was  for  a  day  to  be  consecrated  to  the  Divine 
service,  a  day  in  which  the  people  with  one  accord  should 
assemble  for  the  grateful  remembrance  of  such  signal  and 
manifest  interpositions  of  Providence.  Let  those  who  are 
wont  to  speak  doubtingly  of  the  piety  of  Washington, 
look  at  this.  What  but  the  most  devout  feeling; — the 
utmost  Christian  sincerity  could  have  prompted  a  procla 
mation  like  this?  What,  but  the  most  profound  grati 
tude  to  the  Giver  of  all  good,  would  have  inclined  him 
thereto?  No  one,  indifferent  to  the  claims  of  Heaven 
upon  him  would  have  done  it. 

When  the  first  fever  of  passion  had  subsided,  occa 
sioned  by  the  news  of  surrender,  and  a  form  of  govern 
ment  began  to  be  considered,  a  letter  was  handed  to 
Washington  containing  the  demand  of  some  for  a  mon 
archy,  and  himself  the  king.  Less  worthy  men  would 
have  hailed  the  opening  of  such  an  era  to  himself,  but  it 
excited  sensations  in  his  breast,  that  he  declared  to  bo 
more  painful  than  he  had  ever  before  experienced.  Far 
different  was  his  ambition — far  otherwise  the  bent  of  his 
efforts.  lie  immediately  called  a  meeting,  and  before  the 
arrival  of  the  hour,  he  had  obtained  private  interviews 
with  several  officers,  many  of  which  showed  the  effect  of 
the  meeting  by  traces  of  tears  upon  the  manly  counte 
nance.  The  address  was  prepared,  the  assembly  met,  and 
as  the  general  arose,  and  his  eye  fell  upon  his  companions 
in  arms,  the  remembrance  of  their  mutual  joys  and  sor 
rows  so  pressed  upon  him,  he  was  overcome  with  emotion ; 
his  voice  faltered  and  he  was  scarcely  able  to  proceed. 
Quietly  taking  his  glasses  from  his  pocket  he  remarked  with 
thrilling  effect,  "I  have  grown  grey  in  your  service,  and 
now  I  am  growing  blind,  but  I  never  doubted  the  justice 
of  my  country,  or  its  gratitude."  He  retired  at  its  close, 
while  the  remaining  body  fully  indorsed  his  sentiments, 
and  passed  resolutions  expressive  of  the  most  ardent  affec 
tion  for  him,  and  a  determination  to  abide  by  his  wishes. 
Eight  years  of  conflict  had  passed ;  the  treaty  of  peace 
was  signed,  and  it  remained  for  the  patriot  hero,  as  well 
as  others,  to  enjoy  what  had  been  so  dearly  bought.  A 


510  LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON. 

continual  ovation  was  his  wherever  he  went.  "Proces 
sions,  triumphal  arches,  cannon,  music,  flowers,  songs, 
addresses,  greeted  him  every  where,"  showing  the  place 
he  had  then  won  for  himself  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
lie  resigned  his  commission,  and  turned  his  willing  feet 
toward  Mt.  Vernon,  and  we  venture  to  say  no  more  pleas 
ing  emotion  ever  entered  his  breast  than  upon  this  occa 
sion,  when  he  crossed  the  thresh  hold  of  his  home,  and  met 
the  warm  welcome  of  his  family.  He  returned  to  his  old 
habits  of  superintending  his  vast  establishments,  and 
adorning  the  walks  and  grounds  with  flowers  and  trees. 
When  the  inheritance  became  his  own,  it  was  compara 
tively  rough,  and  one  with  his  peculiar  esthetic  taste 
found  very  much  to  do  to  bring  it  up  to  his  ideal  stand 
ard.  Every  thing — his  habits  of  life  and  all,  were  reduced 
to  a  perfect  system.  He  had  a  special  regard  for  early 
morning  hours,  and  invariably  secured  them  to  himself 
for  the  consideration  of  important  business,  before  the 
cares  of  the  day  had  confused  his  intellect.  A  portion  of 
each  afternoon  was  spent  in  his  library  with  his  books  and 
papers,  and  the  evening  usually  devoted  to  reading  with 
Mrs.  Washington  who  was  a  ready  listener  while  her  busy 
hands  plied  the  knitting  needles.  His  wise  division  of 
time,  together  with  his  great  frugality  and  temperance 
enabled  him  to  perform  a  great  deal  of  labor.  There  was 
an  interruption  to  this  retirement  which  led  him  through 
the  wilderness,  in  a  journey  of  five  weeks,  six  hundred 
and  eighty  miles,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  state 
of  his  own  lands,  and  the  possibility  of  a  water  commu 
nication  between  the  East  and  the  West.  The  result  of 
his  observations  were  communicated  to  the  governor  of 
Virginia,  in  an  able  letter,  and  so  deeply  was  the  legisla 
ture  impressed  with  the  value  of  his  suggestions,  they 
voted  him  shares  in  a  new  enterprise  to  the  value  of  forty 
thousand  dollars,  but  in  his  characteristic  manner,  the  gift 
was  firmly  declined,  though  not  without  appreciation  of 
the  motives  which  prompted  the  action.  If  the  benevo 
lent  donors,  however,  were  disposed  to  bestow  it  upon 
objects  for  the  public  good,  he  would  be'  most  happy  to 
see  it  thus  dispensed.  Accordingly  a  portion  of  it  was 
given  to  an  institution  in  Koekbridge  county,  since  called 
Washington  College,  and  the  remainder  to  the  establish- 


LIFE    OF   WASHINGTON.  511 

merit  of  a  National  University — -something  he  had  long 
desired,  as  the  general  diffusion  of  intelligence  was  his 
delight.  Notwithstanding  his  efforts  at  home  seclusion, 
he  was  still  the  chosen  adviser  of  the  people,  and  to  a  con 
vention  to  revise  the  constitution,  in  I3hiladelphia,  he  was 
sent  as  delegate.  He  was  chosen  President,  and  the  result 
of  the  meeting  was  the  adoption  of  that  known  as  "Our 
Constitution."  When  duly  ratified  by  the  people,  the 
question  was  agitated  in  every  circle — "Who  shall  be 
placed  over  all  to  protect  the  constitution?''  The  name 
of  Washington  was  upon  every  lip,  but  the  position  -did 
not  attract  him,  as  abundant  extracts  from  his  private  let 
ters  fully  testify.  "The  great  Searcher  of  human  hearts 
is  my  witness,"  said  he  on  one  occasion,  that  I  have  no 
wish  which  aspires  beyond  the  humble  and  happy  lot  of 
living  and  dying  a  private  citizen  on  my  own  farm." 
But,  though  Washington's  love  of  home  was  strong,  his 
love  of  country  was  stronger.  He  accepted  the  nation's 
honor,  and  set  out  for  New  York,  "oppressed  with  painful 
sensations,"  instead  of  proudly  rejoicing  over  his  great  pro 
motion.  A  triumphal  march  like  this  is  scarcely  on  record. 
The  people  poured  out  in  grateful  crowds  with  their 
congratulations.  Trenton  bridge  was  gained  in  the  dark 
ness  of  night,  under  an  inclement  sky,  but  brightness  of  a 
strange  character  was  visible  there.  "  A  beautiful  arch 
of  evergreens  crowned  the  bridge  over  which  the  brave 
legions  of  '77  had  passed  in  their  snowy  march,  and  em 
blems  of  love  and  honor  shone  where  heavy  banners,  and 
almost  as  heavy  hearts  once  passed."  As  the  general 
passed  under  these,  he  beheld  the  glistening  eyes  of  a 
crowd  of  little  girls  who  came  forward  with  flower- wreathed 
brows,  carrying  baskets  of  the  bright  things  of  nature  to 
strew  in  the  hero's  path,  while  they  struck  up  a  song  of 
welcome,  amid  the  smiles  and  tears  of  the*loving  mothers 
at  their  sides.  Never  was  mortal  more  gracefully  met 
than  Washington,  on  this  occasion.  Its  power  he  de 
clared,  to  be  completely  overwhelming.  A  little  farther 
on  a  splendid  deputation  met  him  from  New  York,  and  a 
"grand  flotilla"  accompanied  him  thither. 

Thursday,  April  13th,  1789,  was  the  day  of  his  inau 
guration.  After  the  novel  and  appropriate  services,  the 
secretary  pronounced  to  the  assembled  people,  the  words — 


512  LIFE    OF   WASHINGTON. 

"it  is  done,"  and  simultaneously  waving  his  hand,  shout 
ed — "Long  live  George  Washington,  President  of  the 
United  States,"  a  sentiment  that  was  met  by  the  loud 
acclamations  of  a  grateful  people.  Illuminations  and 
receptions  were  the  order  of  the  days  that  followed,  but 
intense  excitement  and  labor  involved  was  too  much  for 
the  frame  that  had  already  endured  too  much,  and  the 
President  became  seriously  ill.  For  several  weeks  the 
physician  never  left  his  patient,  and  doubt  existed  in  the 
minds  of  .both  as  to  the  result.  The  latter  was  calm  and 
resigned,  saying,  in  view  of  death,  "Whether  to-night  or 
twenty  years  hence,  makes  no  difference ;  I  know  I  am  in 
the  hands  of  a  good  Providence."  But  there  was  yet 
more  for  him  to  do — more  for  him  to  experience,  the  blow 
was  stayed.  Scarcely  had  he  become  convalescent  when 
tidings  came  of  the  death  of  his  aged  mother.  Filial  affec 
tion  had  never  abated  in  the  breast  of  the  patriot  and  the 
hero,  and  the  intelligence  awakened  strong  emotions,  but 
he  little  expected  another  meeting  when  he  took  his  leave 
of  her,  on  assuming  the  presidency.  Affectionately  em 
bracing  her  at  that  time,  he  bowed  his  head  upon  her 
shoulder,  with  the  expression  of  a  hope  that  he  might 
behold  her  face  once  more  on  earth.  "  No,  George,"  she  re 
plied,  "this  is  our  last  parting;  my  days  to  come  are  few. 
But  go,  fulfill  your  high  duties,  and  may  God  bless  and  keep 
you."  What  beautiful  examples,  this  mother  and  son  ! 

In  1791,  Washington  made  the  tour  of  the  Southern 
states,  traveling,  in  twelve  weeks,  about  nineteen  hundred 
miles,  with  the  same  horses,  always  having  daily  and  per 
sonal  care  of  them.  These  tours  were  undertaken  for  the 
combined  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  state  of  the  public 
mind,  and  the  condition  and  resources  of  the  country, 
beside  giving  the  people  an  opportunity  of  becoming 
more  intimately  acquainted  with  their  Chief  Magistrate. 
These  gave  him  much  satisfaction,  and  constituted  an 
agreeable  portion  of  his  life  as  president.  At  the  expira 
tion  of  the  first  term  of  office,  he  hoped  to  be  allowed  to 
return  to  his  Vernon  home,  and  yield  the  palm  to  another. 
Resignation  was  his  fixed  purpose,  and  on  its  becoming 
known,  all  parties  united  in  insisting  that  he  be  again 
elected.  "The  confidence  of  the  whole  Union,"  said  Jef 
ferson,  "is  centered  in  you,"  while  another  voice  was  echo- 


LIFE   OF   WASHINGTON.  513 

ing  the  sentiments  of  many  hearts  in  saying,  "It  will  be 
time  enough  for  you  to  have  a  successor  when  it  shall 
please  God  to  call  you  from  this  world." 

The  farewell  address  was  already  prepared,  and  in  anti 
cipation  he  was  nearing  the  rest  of  home,  but  his  objec 
tions  and  his  unwillingness  were  overruled  by  the  intense 
desire  of  the  nation,  arid  on  the  4th  of  March,  1793,  he 
again  took  the  oath  of  office,  and  commenced  anew  the 
affairs  of  state,  which  had  assumed  an  important  and 
somewhat  complicated  relation,  by  reason  of  foreign  inter 
ference.  These  caused  him  no  little  annoyance,  but  the 
end  justified  the  wisdom  of  his  operations,  and  when  the 
third  presidential  term  came  round,  he  was  again  pressed 
to  remain  at  the  helm,  which  he  had  so  well  learned  to 
guide.  This  he  resolutely  declined  doing.  He  had  seen 
long  years  of  faithful  service,  and  he  could  not  still  his 
longings  for  rest.  As  the  prospect  dawned  upon  him,  he 
writes  to  a  friend, — "To  the  wearied  traveler  who  sees  a 
resting-place,  and  is  bending  his  body  to  lean  thereon,  I 
now  compare  myself."  lie  turned  to  a  life  of  tranquillity, 
hoping  that  the  ship  was  so  well  under  way  as  to  need  no 
more  of  his  assistance,  but  a  storm  arose,  and  the  threat 
ening  billows  seemed  about  to  engulf  the  land,  and  there 
was  a  general  turning  to  him  who  had  steered  them  safely 
through  perilous  streams  before.  Again  he  offered  his 
services  if  circumstances  actually  demanded  them,  but  his 
keen  foresight  discovered  signs  of  the  speedy  dispersion 
of  the  cloud,  and  these  proving  correct,  his  domestic  quiet 
was  not  invaded  at  this  time.  The  work  of  the  man  was 
almost  done.  The  wh  el  at  the  cistern  had  been  turning 
with  undue  rapidity  for  many  years.  Cares  had  indeed 
sat  gracefully  upon  him,  but  they  had  left  their  unmistak 
able  impress.  The  deepening  furrows  told  the  story  of 
life's  ebbing  sands.  The  sun  of  sixty-eight  summers  had 
beamed  upon  an  ever  active  man,  and  the  constant  activ 
ity  had  tasked  both  mental  and  physical  energies  in  an 
unwonted  manner.  But  he  had  no  idea  of  fostering  idle 
ness  in  his  declining  days.  With  characteristic  vigor  he 
still  gave  his  attention  to  his  rural  occupations ;  to  the 
improvement  and  the  beautifying  of  his  estate.  While 
thus  engaged  on  a  stormy,  cold  December  morning,  he 
contracted  a  chill  that  told  with  fearful  power  upon  his 


514  LIFE    OF   WASHINGTON. 

mortal  frame.  For  some  days  he  sought  to  resist  it,  still 
engaging  in  his  habit  of  reading  aloud,  though  much 
troubled  with  hoarseness.  At  length,  however,  it  assumed 
an  aspect  that  made  it  evident  that  something  must  be 
done.  A  physician  was  called,  and  remained  by  his  side 
constantly,  but  the  time  had  come  for  him  to  die,  and  no 
earthly  remedies  were  availing.  The  utmost  composure 
rested  upon  the  countenance  of  the  dying  man.  The  set 
tlement  of  books  and  accounts; — the  arrangement  of  let 
ters  and  papers  were  made  with  the  most  perfect  calmness, 
and  the  grim  messenger  welcomed  as  a  friend  to  introduce 
him  to  a  company  he  was  waiting  to  meet.  Until  nearly 
the  last  his  sufferings  were  intense,  but  not  a  sigh  or  a 
word  of  complaint  escaped  the  lips  of  the  illustrious  suf 
ferer,  nor  was  it  because  the  stoic  creed  found  a  place  in  his 
mind.  Tenderness  was  too  manifest  a  trait  of  his  nature 
to  suppose  any  thing  like  this.  The  tenor  of  his  life  and 
actions  afford  the  strongest  evidence  that  his  soul  was 
stayed  on  the  true  basis — the  hopes  of  the  Gospel.  The 
modesty  every  where  visible  in  his  life  shone  out  at  his 
death.  lie  wished  a  burial  without  ostentation,  and  it 
was  granted  as  far  as  a  grateful  people  could  allow  it,  who 
were  burning  to  show  their  love  and  respect  for  one  so 
intimately  associated  with  their  best  blessings.  On  the 
18th  of  December,  1799^  the  people  assembled  from  far  and 
near  to  take  a  last  look  of  all  that  was  mortal  of  George 
Washington.  "The  lawns  and  groves  of  Mt.  Vernon,  so 
long  the  home  of  his  best  pleasures,  and  object  of  his 
cares,  were  thronged  with  mourners,  personal  friends, 
military  companies,  and  members  of  the  Masonic  order. 
Never  was  one  followed  to  the  tomb  \>y  such  a  procession 
•of  mourners  before.  All  were  mourners; — all  felt  that 
they  had  experienced  a  severe  loss  ; — that  they  had  parted 
with  one  that  belonged  in  no  inconsiderable  measure  to 
themselves,  with' one  who  had  wrought  out  for  their  indi 
vidual  enjoyment,  the  right  to  untold  privileges.  Both 
houses  of  Congress  adjourned  at  the  reception  of  the  in 
telligence."  "On  this  occasion,"  said  eloquent  men,  "it 
is  manly  to  weep.  To  lose  such  a  man,  at  such  a  crisis, 
is  no  common  calamity  to  the  world.  Our  country 
mourns  a  father." 

Mrs.  Washington  was  solicited  to  yield  the  remains  of 


LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON.  515 

her  beloved  husband  to  the  nation,  to  be  placed  under  a 
monument  worthy  of  his  fame.  "Taught  by  his  exam 
ple,"  as  she  said,  "she  sacrificed  her  inclinations  to  the  wish 
of  the  public,"  and  replied  in  the  affirmative.  As  the 
news  of  his  death  spread  through  the  land,  the  voice  of 
lamentation  was  every  where  heard.  The  North  and  the 
South  alike  joined.  Eulogies  were  every  where  spoken, 
and  it  was  the  beginning  of  that  which  has  never  ceased. 
Songs  were  then  sung  that  have  become  stamped  with  the 
immortality  of  fame.  People  have  never  wearied  with 
chanting  his  praises. 

It  is  enough  to  say  the  name  of  Washington  has  be 
come  a  household  word  in  all  American  homes.  It  has 
been  urged  that  he  was  a  slaveholder,  and  he  was  by  birth, 
education  and  habit,  but  his  feelings  are  manifest  with 
regard  to  it,  in  a  remark  to  Lafayette,  who  purchased  an 
estate  with  the  intention  of  freeing  the  slaves  upon  it,— 
"Your  late  purchase  is  a  generous  and  noble  proof  of 
your  humanity.  Would  to  God  a  like  spirit  might  dif 
fuse  itself  generally  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  this 
country."  It  may  be  gathered  from  all  his  expressions 
concerning  it,  that  he  regarded  it  as  an  evil,  and  was 
ready  to  cooperate  in  wise  measures  "for  its  extinction. 
His  own  will  provided  for  the  emancipation  of  those  in 
his  possession,  and  not  only  for  this  but  for  their  comfort 
and  education.  His  testimony  against  the  institution  is 
clear  and  explicit.  He  was  too  largely  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  humanity  in  its  highest  sense,  to  favor  principles 
so  utterly  at  variance  with  it.  He  was  too  home-loving ; — 
too  strongly  appreciative  of  freedom  to  wish  any  deprived 
of  the  pleasures  accruing  from  these.  His  was  emphati 
cally  a  large  and  benevolent  soul ;  a  rich  and  uncom 
monly  endowed  nature.  He  was  God's  gift  to  the  nation ; 
given  for  a  lofty  end,  and  well  has  the  end  been  subserved. 
It  is  well  then  that  we  hold  the  gift  in  remembrance,  at 
the  same  time  being  grateful  to  Him  whom  Washington 
was  wont,  reverentially  to  call,  the  "Divine  Founder"  of 
all  things. 


WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 


FRIENDS  AND  FELLOW-CITIZENS — 

THE  period  for  the  new  election  of  a  citizen,  to  administer  the 
executive  government  of  the  United  States,  being  not  far  distant, 
and  the  time  actually  arrived  when  your  thoughts  must  be  employed 
in  designating  the  person  who  is  to  be  clothed  with  that  important 
trust,  it  appears  to  me  proper,  especially  as  it  may  conduce  to  a  more 
distinct  expression  of  the  public  voice,  that  I  should  now  apprise  you 
of  the  resolution  I  have  formed,  to  decline  being  considered  among 
the  number  of  those  out  of  whom  a  choice  is  to  be  made.  I  beg 
you,  at  the  same  time,  to  do  me  the  justice  to  be  assured,  that  this 
resolution  has  not  been  taken  without  a  strict  regard  to  all  the  con 
siderations  appertaining  to  the  relations  which  bind  a  dutiful  citizen 
to  his  country;  and  that,  in  withdrawing  the  tender  of  service  which 
silence  in  my  situation  might  imply,  I  am  influenced  by  no  diminution 
of  zeal  for  your  future  interest — no  deficiency  of  grateful  respect  for 
your  past  kindness;  but  am  supported  by  a  full  conviction  that  the 
step  is  compatible  with  both. 

The  acceptance  of,  and  continuance  hitherto  in,  the  office  to  which 
your  suffrages  have  twice  called  me,  have  been  a  uniform  sacrifice  of 
inclination  to  the  opinion  of  duty  and  to  a  deference  for  what  ap 
peared  to  be  your  desire.  I  constantly  hoped  that  it  would  have 
been  much  earlier  in  my  power,  consistently  with  motives  which  I 
was  not  at  liberty  to  disregard,  to  return  to  that  retirement  from 
which  I  have  been  reluctantly  drawn.  The  strength  of  my  inclina 
tion  to  do  this,  previous  to  the  last  election,  had  even  led  to  the 
preparation  of  an  address  to  declare  it  to  you ;  but  mature  reflection 
on  the  then  perplexed  and  critical  posture  of  our  affairs  with  foreign 
nations,  and  the  unanimous  advice  of  persons  entitled  to  my  confi 
dence,  impelled  me  to  abandon  the  idea. 

I  rejoice  that  the  state  of  your  concerns,  external  as  well  as  internal, 
no  longer  renders  the  pursuit  of  inclination  incompatible  with  the  sen 
timent  of  duty  or  propriety ;  and  am  persuaded,  whatever  partiality 
may  be  retained  for  my  services,  that  in  the  present  circumstances 
of  our  country,  you  will  not  disapprove  my  determination  to  retire. 

The  impressions  with  which  I  first  undertook  the  arduous  trust, 
were  explained  on  the  proper  occasion.  Tn  the  discharge  of  this 
trust,  I  will  only  say,  that  I  have,  with  good  intentions,  contributed 
toward  the  organization  and  administration  of  the  government,  the 
best  exertions  of  which  a  very  fallible  judgment  was  capable.  Not 
unconscious,  in  the  outset,  of  the  inferiority  of  my  qualifications,  ex 
perience  in  rny  own  eyes,  perhaps  still  more  in  the  eyes  of  others, 
has  strengthened  the  motives  to  diffidence  of  myself;  and,  every  day, 
the  increasing  weight  of  years  admonishes  me  more  and  more  that 
the  shade  of  retirement  is  as  necessary  to  me  as  it  will  be  welcome. 
Satisfied  that  if  any  circumstances  have  given  peculiar  value  to  my 


WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS.  517 

services,  they  were  temporary,  I  have  the  consolation  to  believe,  that 
while  choice  and  prudence  invite  me  to  quit  the  political  scene,  pat 
riotism  does  not  forbid  it. 

In  looking  forward  to  the  moment  which  is  intended  to  terminate 
the  career  of  my  public  life,  my  feelings  do  not  permit  me  to  suspend 
the  deep  acknowledgment  of  that  debt  of  gratitude  which  I  owe  to 
my  beloved  country,  for  the  many  honors  it  has  conferred  upon  me ; 
still  more  for  the  steadfast  confidence  with  which  it  has  supported 
me ;  and  for  the  opportunities  I  have  thence  enjoyed  of  manifesting 
iny  inviolable  attachment,  by  services  faithful  and  persevering,  though 
in  usefulness  unequal  to  my  zeal.  If  benefits  have  resulted  to  our 
country  from  these  services,  let  it  always  be  remembered  to  your 
praise  and  as  an  instructive  example  in  our  annals,  that  under  cir 
cumstances  in  which  the  passions,  agitated  in  every  direction,  were 
liable  to  mislead,  amidst  appearances  sometimes  dubious — vicissitudes 
of  fortune  often  discouraging  —in  situations  in  which  not  unfrequently 
want  of  success  has  countenanced  the  spirit  of  criticism — the  con 
stancy  of  your  support  was  the  essential  prop  of  the  efforts,  and  the 
guaranty  of  the  plans  by  which  they  were  effected. 

Profoundly  penetrated  with  this  idea,  I  shall  carry  it  with  me  to 
my  grave,  as  a  strong  incitement  to  unceasing  vows  that  Heaven  may 
continue  to  you  the  choicest  tokens  of  its  beneficence — that  your 
union  and  brotherly  affection  may  be  perpetual — that  the  free  Consti 
tution,  which  is  the  work  of  your  hands,  may  be  sacredly  main 
tained — that  its  administration  in  every  department  may  be  stamped 
with  wisdom  and  virtue — that,  in  fine,  the  happiness  of  the  people  of 
these  States,  under  the  auspices  of  libcrt}^,  may  be  made  complete,  by 
so  careful  a  preservation,  and  so  prudent  a  use  of  this  blessing,  as  will 
acquire  to  them  the  glory  of  recommending  it  to  the  applause,  the  affec 
tion,  and  the  adoption  of  every  nation  which  is  yet  a  stranger  to  it. 

Here,  perhaps,  1  ought  to  stop.  But  a  solicitude  for  your  welfare, 
which  can  not  end  but  with  my  life,  and  the  apprehension  of  danger, 
natural  to  that  solicitude,  urge  me,  on  an  occasion  like  the  present,  to 
offer  to  your  solemn  contemplation,  and  to  recommend  to  your  fre 
quent  review,  some  sentiments;  which  are  the  result  of  much  reflec 
tion,  of  no  inconsiderable  observation,  and  which  appear  to  me  all- 
important  to  the  permanency  of  your  felicity  as  a  people.  These  will 
be  afforded  to  you  with  the  more  freedom,  as  you  can  only  see  in  them 
the  disinterested  warnings  of  a  parting  friend,  who  can  possibly  have 
no  personal  motives  to  bias  his  counsel.  Nor  can  I  forget  as  an  en 
couragement  to  it,  your  indulgent  reception  of  my  sentiments  on  a 
former  and  not  dissimilar  occasion.  Interwoven  as  is  the  love  of  lib 
erty  with  every  ligament  of  your  hearts,  no  recommendation  of  mine 
is  necessary  to  fortify  or  confirm  the  attachment. 

The  unity  of  government  which  constitutes  you  one  people,  is  also 
now  dear  to  you.  It  is  justly  so  ;  for  it  is  a  main  pillar  in  the  edifice 
of  your  real  independence,  the  support  of  your  tranquillity  at  home, 
your  peace  abroad,  of  your  safety,  of  your  prosperity;  of  that  very 
liberty  which  you  so  highly  prize.  But  as  it  is  easy  to  foresee,  that 
from  different  causes  and  from  different  quarters,  much  pains  will  be 
taken,  many  artifices  employed,  to  weaken  in  your  minds  the  convic 
tion  of  this  truth  ;  as  this  is  the  point  in  your  political  fortress  against 


518  WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

which  the  batteries  of  internal  and  external  enemies  will  be  most 
constantly  and  actively  (though  often  covertly  and  insiduously)  di 
rected,  it  is  of  infinite  moment  that  you  should  properly  estimate  the 
immense  value  of  your  national  Union  to  your  collective  and  individ 
ual  happiness;  that  you  should  cherish  a  cordial,  habitual,  and  im 
movable  attachment  to  it ;  accustoming  yourselves  to  think  and  speak 
of  it  as  of  the  Palladium  of  your  political  safety  and  prosperity ; 
watching  for  its  preservation  with  jealous  anxiety  ;  discountenancing 
whatever  may  suggest  even  a  suspicion  that  it  can  in  any  event  be 
abandoned  ;  and  indignantly  frowning  upon  the  first  dawning  of  every 
attempt  to  alienate  any  portion  of  our  country  from  the  rest,  or  to 
enfeeble  the  sacred  ties  which  now  link  together  the  various  parts. 

For  this  you  have  every  inducement  of  sympathy  and  interest. 
Citizens  by  birth  or  choice,  of  a  common  country,  that  country  has  a 
right  to  concentrate  3*our  affections.  The  name  of  AMERICAN,  which 
belongs  to  you  in  your  national  capacity,  must  always  exalt  the  just 
pride  of  patriotism,  more  than  any  appellation  derived  from  local  dis 
criminations.  With  slight  shades  of  difference,  you  have  the  same 
religion,  manners,  habits,  and  political  principles.  You  have  in  a 
common  cause,  fought  and  triumphed  together;  the  independence 
and  liberty  you  possess  are  the  work  of  joint  councils  and  joint  ef 
forts,  of  common  dangers,  sufferings,  and  successes.  But  these  con 
siderations,  however  powerfully  they  address  themselves  to  your 
sensibility,  are  greatly  outweighed  by  those  which  apply  more  imme 
diately  to  your  interest — here  every  portion  of  our  country  finds  the 
most  commanding  motives  for  carefully  guarding  and  preserving  the 
Union  of  the  whole. 

The  North,  in  an  unrestrained  intercourse  with  the  South,  pro 
tected  by  the  equal  laws  of  a  common  government,  finds  in  the  pro 
ductions  of  the  latter,  great  additional  resources  of  maritime  and 
commercial  enterprise  and  precious  materials  of  manufacturing  indus 
try.  The  South,  in  the  same  intercourse,  benefiting  by  the  agency  of 
the  North,  sees  its  agriculture  grow  and  its  commerce  expand. 
Turning  partly  into  its  own  channels  the  seamen  of  the  Novth,  it 
finds  its  particular  navigation  invigorated ;  and  while  it  contributes, 
in  different  ways,  to  nourish  and  increase  the  general  mass  of  the 
national  navigation,  it  looks  forward  to  the  protection  of  a  maritime 
strength,  to  which  itself  is  unequally  adapted.  The  East,  in  like 
intercourse  with  the  West,  already  finds,  and  in  the  progressive  im 
provement  of  interior  communication,  by  land  and  water,  will  more 
and  more  find  a  valuable  vent  for  the  commodities  which  it  brings 
from  abroad,  or  manufactures  at  home.  The  West  derives  from  the 
East  supplies  requisite  to  its  growth  and  comfort — and  what  is  per 
haps  of  still  greater  consequence,  it  must  of  necessity  owe  the  secure 
enjoyment  of  indispensable  outlets  for  its  own  productions  to  the 
weight,  influence,  and  the  future  maritime  strength  of  the  Atlantic 
side  of  the  Union,  directed  by  an  indissoluble  community  of  interest 
as  ONE  NATION.  Any  other  tenure  by  which  the  West  can  hold  this 
essential  advantage,  whether  derived  from  its  own  separate  strength, 
or  from  an  apostate  and  unnatural  connection  with  any  foreign  power, 
must  be  intrinsically  precarious. 

While,  then,  every  part  of  our  country  thus  feels  an  immediate  and 


519 

particular  interest  in  union,  all  the  parts  combined  can  not  fail  to 
find  in  the  united  mass  of  means  and  efforts,  greater  strength, 
greater  resource,  proportionally  greater  security  from  external  dan 
ger,  a  less  frequent  interruption  of  their  peace  by  foreign  nations; 
and,  what  is  of  inestimable  value,  they  must  derive  from  union  an 
exemption  from  those  broils  and  wars  between  themselves,  which  so 
frequently  afflict  neighboring  countries  not  tied  together  by  the  same 
government ;  which  their  own  rivalships  alone  would  be  sufficient  to 
produce,  but  which  opposite  foreign  alliances,  attachments,  and  in 
trigues  would  stimulate  and  embitter.  Hence  likewise  they  will  avoid 
the  necessity  of  those  overgrown  military  establishments,  which, 
under  any  form  of  government,  are  inauspicious  to  liberty,  and  which 
are  to  be  regarded  as  particularly  hostile  to  Republican  Liberty ;  in 
this  sense  it  is,  that  your  Union  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  main 
prop  of  your  liberty,  and  that  the  love  of  the  one  ought  to  endear  to 
you  the  preservation  of  the  other. 

These  considerations  speak  a  persuasive  language  to  every  reflect 
ing  and  virtuous  mind,  and  exhibit  the  continuance  of  the  Union  as 
a  primary  object  of  patriotic  desire.  Is  there  a  doubt  whether  a 
common  government  can  embrace  so  large  a  sphere  ?  Let  experience 
solve  it.  To  listen  to  mere  speculation  in  such  a  case  were  criminal. 
We  are  authorized  to  hope  that  a  proper  organization  of  the  whole, 
with  the  auxiliary  agency  of  the  governments  for  the  respective  sub 
divisions,  will  afford  a  happy  issue  to  the  experiment.  It  is  well 
worth  a  fair  and  full  experiment.  With  such  powerful  and  obvious 
motives  to  Union,  affecting  all  parts  of  our  country,  while  experience 
shall  not  have  demonstrated  its  impracticability,  there  will  always  be 
reason  to  distrust  the  patriotism  of  those  who  in  any  quarter  may 
endeavor  to  weaken  its  bands. 

In  contemplating  the  causes  which  may  disturb  our  Union,  it 
occurs  as  a  matter  of  serious  concern,  that  any  ground  should  have 
been  furnished  for  characterizing  parties  by  geographical  discrimina 
tions — northern  and  southern,  Atlantic  and  western;  whence  design 
ing  men  may  endeavor  to  excite  a  belief  that  there  is  a  real  difference 
of  local  interest  and  views.  One  of  the  expedients  of  party  to  acquire 
influence  within  particular  districts,  is  to  misrepresent  the  opinions 
and  aims  of  other  districts.  You  can  not  shield  yourselves  too  much 
against  the  jealousies  and  heart-burnings  which  spring  from  those 
misrepresentations:  they  tend  to  render  alien  to  each  other  those 
who  ought  to  be  bound  together  by  fraternal  affection.  The  inhabit 
ants  of  our  western  country  have  lately  had  a  useful  lesson  on  this 
head ;  they  have  seen  in  the  negotiation  by  the  Executive,  and  in  the 
unanimous  ratification  by  the  Senate,  of  the  treaty  with  Spain,  and 
in  the  universal  satisfaction  at  that  event  throughout  the  United 
States,  a  decisive  proof  how  unfounded  were  the  suspicions  propaga 
ted  among  them,  of  a  policy  in  the  General  Government  and  in  the 
Atlantic  States  unfriendly  to  their  interests  in  regard  to  the  Missis 
sippi  ;  they  have  been  witnesses  to  the  formation  of  two  treaties — 
that  with  Great  Britain  and  that  with  Spain — which  secure  to  them 
every  thing  they  could  desire,  in  respect  to  our  foreign  relations, 
towards  confirming  their  prosperity.  Will  it  not  be  their  wisdom  to 
rely  for  the  preservation  of  these  advantages  on  the  UNION  by  which 


520  WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

they  were  procured?  Will  they  not  henceforth  be  deaf  to  those  ad 
visers,  if  such  there  are,  who  would  sever  them  from  their  brethren, 
and  connect  them  with  aliens? 

To  the  efficacy  and  permanency  of  your  Union,  a  government  for 
the  whole  is  indispensable.  No  alliance,  however  strict,  between 
the  parts,  can  be  an  adequate  substitute;  they  must  inevitably  expe 
rience  the  infractions  and  interruptions  which  all  alliances  in  all  times 
have  experienced.  Sensible  of  this  momentous  truth,  you  have  im 
proved  upon  your  first  essay,  by  the  adoption  of  a  Constitution  of 
government  better  calculated  than  your  former  for  an  intimate  Union, 
and  for  the  efficacious  management  of  your  common  concerns. 
This  government,  the  offspring  of  our  own  choice,  uninfluenced  and 
unawed,  adopted  upon  full  investigation  and  mature  deliberation, 
completely  free  in  its  principles,  in  the  distribution  of  its  powers, 
uniting  security  with  energy,  and  containing  within  itself  a  provision 
for  its  own  amendment,  has  a  just  claim  to  your  confidence  and  your 
support.  Respect  for  its  authority,  compliance  with  its  laws,  acqui 
escence  in  its  measures,  are  duties  enjoined  by  the  fundamental  max 
ims  of  true  Liberty.  The  basis  of  our  political  systems  is  the  right 
of  the  people  to  make  and  to  alter  their  Constitutions  of  Government; 
but  the  Constitution  which  at  any  time  exists,  till  changed  by  an  ex 
plicit  and  authentic  act  of  the  whole  people,  is  sacredly  obligatory 
upon  all.  The  very  idea  of  the  power  and  the  right  of  the  people  to 
establish  government,  presupposes  the  duty  of  every  individual  to 
obey  the  established  government. 

All  obstructions  to  the  execution  of  the  -laws,  all  combinations  and 
associations,  under  whatever  plausible  character,  with  the  real  design 
to  direct,  control,  counteract,  or  awe  the  regular  deliberation  and 
action  of  the  constituted  authorities,  are  destructive  to  this  funda 
mental  principle,  and  of  fatal  tendency.  They  serve  to  organize  fac 
tion,  to  give  it  an  artificial  and  extraordinary  force — to  put  in  the 
place  of  the  delegated  \vill  of  the  nation,  the  will  of  a  party,  often  a 
small  but  artful  and  enterprising  minority  of  the  community ;  and, 
according  to  the  alternate  triumphs  of  different  parties,  to  make  the 
public  administration  the  mirror  of  the  ill-concerted  and  incongruous 
projects  of  faction,  rather  than  the  organ  of  consistent  and  whole 
some  plans,  digested  by  common  councils,  and  modified  by  mutual 
interests.  However  combinations  or  associations  of  the  above  de 
scription  may  now  and  then  answer  popular  ends,  they  are  likely,  in 
the  course  of  time  and  things,  to  become  potent  engines,  by  which 
cunning,  ambitious,  and  unprincipled  men  wrill  be  enabled  to  subvert 
the  power  of  the  people,  and  to  usurp  for  themselves  the  reins  of 
government ;  destroying  afterward  the  very  engines  which  have  lifted 
them  to  unjust  dominion. 

Towards  the  preservation  of  your  government,  and  the  permanency 
of  your  present  happy  state,  it  is  requisite,  not  only  that  you  steadily 
discountenance  irregular  opposition  to  its  acknowledged  authority, 
but  also  that  you  resist  with  care  the  spirit  of  innovation  upon  its 
principles,  however  specious  the  pretexts.  One  method  of  assault  may 
be  to  effect,  in  the  forms  of  the  Constitution,  alterations  which  will 
impair  the  energy  of  the  system,  and  thus  to  undermine  what  can 
not  be  directly  overthrown.  In  all  the  changes  to  which  you  may  be 


WASHINGTON'S   FAREWELL   ADDRESS. 


521 


invited,  remember  that  time  and  habit  are  at  least  as  necessary  to  fix 
the  true  character  of  governments  as  of  other  human  institutions — 
that  experience  is  the  surest  standard  by  which  to  test  the  real  ten 
dency  of  the  existing  Constitution  of  a  country — that  facility  in 
changes  upon  the  credit  of  mere  hypothesis  and  opinion,  exposes  to 
perpetual  change  from  the  endless  variety  of  hypothesis  and  opinion  ; 
and  remember,  especially,  that  for  the  efficient  management  of  your 
common  interests,  in  a  country  so  extensive  as  ours,  a  government 
of  as  much  vigor  as  is  consistent  with  the  perfect  security  of  liberty, 
is  indispensable.  Liberty  itself  will  find  in  such  a  government,  with 
powers  properly  distributed  and  adjusted,  its  surest  guardian.  It  is, 
indeed,  little  else  than  a  name,  where  the  government  is  too  feeble  to 
withstand  the  enterprises  of  faction,  to  confine  each  member  of  the 
society  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  the  laws,  and  to  maintain  all 
in  the  secure  and  tranquil  enjoyment  of  the  rights  of  person  and 
property. 

I  have  already  intimated  to  you  the  danger  of  parties  in  the  State, 
with  particular  reference  to  the  founding  of  them  on  geographical 
discriminations.  Let  me  now  take  a  more  comprehensive  view,  and 
•warn  you  in  the  most  solemn  manner  against  the  baneful  effects  of 
the  spirit  of  party,  generally.  This  spirit,  unfortunately,  is  insepa 
rable  from  our  nature,  having  its  root  in  the  strongest  passions  of  the 
human  mind.  It  exists  under  different  shapes  in  all  governments, 
more  or  less  stifled,  controlled  or  repressed  ;  but  in  those  of  the  popu 
lar  form,  it  is  seen  in  its  greatest  rankness,  and  is  truly  their  worst 
enemy.  The  alternate  domination  of  one  faction  over  another,  sharp 
ened  by  the  spirit  of  revenge,  natural  to  party  dissention,  which,  in 
different  ages  and  countries,  has  perpetrated  the  most  horrid  enormi 
ties,  is  itself  a  frightful  despotism.  But  this  leads  at  length  to  a 
more  formal  and  permanent  despotism.  The  disorders  and  miseries 
which  result,  gradually  incline  the  minds  of  men  to  seek  security  and 
repose  in  the  absolute  power  of  an  individual ;  and  sooner  or  later, 
the  chief  of  some  prevailing  faction,  more  able  or  more  fortunate  than 
his  competitor,  turns  this  disposition  to  the  purposes  of  his  own  ele 
vation,  on  the  ruins  of  public  liberty. 

"Without  looking  forward  to  an  extremity  of  this  kind  (which,  nev 
ertheless,  ought  not  to  be  entirely  out  of  sight,)  the  common  and 
continual  mischiefs  of  the  spirit  of  party  are  sufficient  to  make  it  the 
interest  and  duty  of  a  wise  people  to  discourage  and  restrain  it.  It 
serves  always  to  distract  the  public  councils  and  enfeeble  the  public 
administration.  It  agitates  the  community  with  ill-founded  jealous 
ies  and  false  alarms;  kindles  the  animosity  of  one  part  against  an 
other;  foments  occasionally  riot  and  insurrection.  It  opens  the  door 
to  foreign  influence  and  corruption,  which  find  a  facilitated  access  to 
the  government  itself  through  the  channels  of  party  passions.  Thus 
the  policy  and  the  will  of  one  country  are  subjected  to  the  policy  and 
the  will  of  another. 

There  is  an  opinion  that  parties  in  free  countries  are  useful  checks 
upon  the  administration  of  the  government,  and  serve  to  keep  alive 
the  spirit  of  liberty.  This  within  certain  limits  is  probably  true ; 
and  in  governments  of  a  monarchical  cast,  patriotism  may  look  with 
indulgence,  if  not  with  favor,  upon  the  spirit  of  party.  But  in  those 


522  WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

of  the  popular  character,  in  governments  purely  elective,  it  is  a  spirit 
not  to  be  encouraged.  From  their  natural  tendency,  it  is  certain 
there  will  always  he  enough  of  that  spirit  for  every  salutar}7  purpose. 
And  there  being  constant  danger  of  excess,  the  effort  ought  to  be  by 
force  of  public  opinion,  to  mitigate  and  assuage  it.  A  fire  not  to  be 
quenched,  it  demands  a  uniform  vigilance  to  prevent  its  bursting 
into  a  flame,  lest,  instead  of  warming,  it  should  consume. 

It  is  important,  likewise,  that  the  habits  of  thinking,  in  a  free  coun 
try,  should  inspire  caution  in  those  intrusted  with  its  administration, 
to  confine  themselves  within  their  respective  constitutional  spheres, 
avoiding,  in  the  exercise  of  the  powers  of  one  department,  to  en 
croach  upon  another.  The  spirit  of  encroachment  tends  to  consoli 
date  the  powers  of  all  the  departments  in  one,  and  thus  to  create,  what 
ever  the  form  of  government,  a  real  despotism.  A  just  estimate  of  that 
love  of  power,  and  proneness  to  abuse  it,  which  predominates  in  the  hu 
man  heart,  is  sufficient  to  satisfy  us  of  the  truth  of  this  position.  The 
necessity  of  reciprocal  checks  in  the  exercise  of  political  power,  by  di 
viding  and  distributing  it  into  different  depositories,  and  constituting 
each  the  guardian  of  the  public  weal  against  invasions  by  the  others, 
has  been  evinced  by  experiments  ancient  and  modern :  some  of  them 
in  our  own  country  and  under  our  own  eyes.  To  preserve  them  must 
be  as  necessary  as  to  institute  them.  If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  people, 
the  distribution  or  modification  of  the  constitutional  powers  be  in  any 
particular  wrong,  let  it  be  corrected  by  an  amendment  in  the  way 
which  the  Constitution  designates.  But  let  there  be  no  change  by 
usurpation  ;  for  though  this,  in  one  instance,  may  be  the  instrument 
of  good,  it  is  the  customary  weapon  by  which  free  governments  are 
destroyed.  The  precedent  must  always  greatly  overbalance  in  per 
manent  evil  any  partial  or  transient  benefit  which  the  use  can  at  any 
time  yield. 

Of  all  the  dispositions  and  habits  which  lead  to  political  prosperity, 
religion  and  morality  are  indispensable  supports.  In  vain  would  that 
man  claim  the  tribute  of  patriotism,  who  should  labor  to  subvert 
these  great  pillars  of  human  happiness,  these  firmest  props  of  the 
duties  of  men  and  citizens.  The  mere  politician,  equally  with  the 
pious  man,  ought  to  respect  and  to  cherish  them.  A  volume  could 
not  trace  all  their  connections  with  private  and  public  felicity.  Let 
it  simply  be  asked  where  is  the  security  for  property,  for  reputa 
tion,  for  life,  if  the  sense  of  religious  obligation  DESERT  the  oaths, 
which  are  the  instruments  of  investigation  in  courts  of  justice;  and 
let  us  with  caution  indulge  the  supposition,  that  morality  can  be 
maintained  without  religion.  Whatever  may  be  conceded  to  the  in 
fluence  of  refined  education  on  minds  of  peculiar  structure,  reason 
and  experience  both  forbid  us  to  expect  that  national  morality  can 
prevail  in  exclusion  of  religious  principles.  It  is  .substantially  true, 
that  virtue  or  morality  is  a  necessary  spring  of  popular  government. 
The  rule,  indeed,  extends  with  more  or  less  force  to  every  species  of 
free  government.  Who  that  is  a  sincere  friend  to  it  can  look  with 
indifference  upon  attempts  to  shake  the  foundation  of  the  fabric? 

Promote,  then,  as  an  object  of  primary  importance,  institutions  for 
the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge.  In  proportion  as  the  structure 
of  a  government  gives  force  to  public  opinion,  it  is  essential  that 


523, 

public  opinion  should  be  enlightened.  As  a  very  important  source 
of  strength  and  security,  cherish  public  credit ;  one  method  of  pre 
serving  it  is  to  use  it  as  sparingly  as  possible ;  avoiding  occasions  of 
expense  by  cultivating  peace ;  but  remembering,  also,  that  timely 
disbursements  to  prepare  for  danger,  frequently  prevent  much  greater 
disbursements  to  repel  it ;  avoiding,  likewise,  the  accumulation  of 
debt,  not  only  by  shunning  occasions  of  expense,  but  by  vigorous 
exertions  in  time  of  peace  to  discharge  the  debts  which  unavoidable 
wars  may  have  occasioned,  not  ungenerously  throwing  upon  posterity 
the  burden  which  we  ourselves  ought  to  bear.  The  execution  of 
these  maxims  belongs  to  your  Representatives,  but  it  is  necessary 
that  public  opinion  should  cooperate.  To  facilitate  to  them  the  per 
formance  of  their  duty,  it  is  essential  that  you  should  practically 
bear  in  mind,  that  towards  the  payment  of  debts  there  must  be  rev 
enue  ;  that  to  have  revenue  there  must  be  taxes ;  that  no  taxes  can 
be  devised  which  are  not  more  or  less  inconvenient  and  unpleasant; 
that  the  intrinsic  embarrassment  inseparable  from  the  selection  of  the 
proper  object  (which  is  always  a  choice  of  difficulties)  ought  to  be  a 
decisive  motive  for  a  candid  construction  of  the  conduct  of  the 
government  in  making  it,  and  for  a  spirit  of  acquiescence  in  the 
measures  for  obtaining  revenue  which  the  public  exigencies  may  at 
any  time  dictate. 

Observe  good  faith  and  justice  toward  all  nations ;  cultivate  peace 
and  harmony  with  all;  rejjgion  and  morality  enjoin  this  conduct; 
and  can  it  be  that  good  policy  does  not  equally  enjoin  it  ?  It  will  be 
worthy  of  a  free,  enlightened,  and  at  no  distant  period,  a  great  na 
tion,  to  give  to  mankind  the  magnanimous  and  too  novel  example  of 
a  people  always  guided  by  an  exalted  justice  and  benevolence.  Who 
can  doubt  that  in  the  course  of  time  and  things,  the  fruits  of  such  a 
plan  would  richly  repay  any  temporary  advantages  which  might  be 
lost  by  a  steady  adherence  to  it?  Can  it  be  that  Providence  has  not 
connected  the  permanent  felicity  of  a  nation  with  its  virtue  ?  The 
experiment,  at  least,  is  recommended  by  every  sentiment  which  en 
nobles  human  nature.  Alas!  is  it  rendered  impossible  by  its  vices? 

In  the  execution  of  such  a  plan,  nothing  is  more  essential  than  that 
permanent  inveterate  antipathies  against  particular  nations,  and  pas 
sionate  attachments  for  others  should  be  excluded ;  and  that,  in  place 
of  them,  just  and  amicable  feelings  towards  all  should  be  cultivated. 
The  nation  which  indulges  toward  another  an  habitual  hatred,  or  an 
habitual  fondness,  is  in  some  degree  a  slave.  It  is  a  slave  to  its  ani 
mosity  or  to  its  affection,  either  of  which  is  sufficient  to  lead  it  astray 
from  "its  duty  and  its  interest.  Antipathy  in  one  nation  against 
another,  disposes  each  more  readily  to  offer  insult  and  injury,  to  lay 
hold  of  slight  causes  of  umbrage,  and  to  be  haughty  and  intractable, 
when  accidental  or  trifling  occasions  of  dispute  occur.  Hence  fre 
quent  collisions,  obstinate,  envenomed,  and  bloody  contests.  The 
nation  prompted  by  ill-will  and  resentment,  sometimes  impels  to  war 
the  government,  contrary  to  the  best  calculations  of  policy.  The 
government  sometimes  participates  in  the  national  propensity,  and 
adopts,  through  passion,  what  reason  would  reject ;  at  other  times,  it 
makes  the  animosity  of  the  nation  subservient  to  projects  of  hostility, 
instigated  by  pride,  ambition,  and  other  sinister  and  pernicious  mo- 
34 


524:  WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

tives.  The  peace  often,  sometimes  perhaps  the  liberty,  of  nations 
has  been  the  victim. 

So,  likewise,  a.  passionate  attachment  of  one  nation  to  another 
produces  a  variety  of  evils.  Sympathy  for  the  favorite  nation,  facili 
tating  the  illusion  of  an  imaginary  common  interest,  in  cases  where 
no  real  common  interest  exists,  and  infusing  into  one  the  enmities  of 
the  other,  betrays  the  former  into  a  participation  in  the  quarrels  and 
wars  of  the  latter,  without  adequate  inducement  or  justification.  It 
leads  also  to  concessions  to  the  favorite  nation  of  privileges  de 
nied  to  others,  which  is  apt  doubly  to  injure  the  nation  making  the 
concessions ;  by  unnecessarily  parting  with  what  ought  to  have  been 
retained  ;  and  by  exciting  jealousy,  ill-will,  and  a  disposition  to  retali 
ate,  in  the  parties  from  whom  equal  priviliges  are  withheld — and  it 
gives  to  ambitious,  corrupted,  or  deluded  citizens  (who  devote  them 
selves  to  the  favorite  nation,)  facility  to  betray  or  sacrifice  the  inter 
est  of  their  own  country  without  odium,  sometimes  even  with  popu 
larity  ;  gilding  with  the  appearance  of  a  virtuous  sense  of  obligation, 
a  commendable  deference  for  public  opinion,  or  a  laudable  zeal  for 
public  good,  the  base  or  foolish  compliances  of  ambition,  corruption 
or  infatuation. 

As  avenues  to  foreign  influence  in  innumerable  ways,  such  attach 
ments  are  particularly  alarming  to  the  truly  enlightened  and  inde 
pendent  patriot.  How  many  opportunities  do  they"  afford  to  tamper 
with  domestic  factions  to  practice  the  art  of  seduction,  to  mislead 
public  opinion,  to  influence  or  awe  the  public  councils!  Such  an  at 
tachment  of  a  small  or  weak,  toward  a  great  and  powerful  nation, 
dooms  the  former  to  be  the  satellite  of  the  latter.  Against  the  insidi 
ous  wiles  of  foreign  influence  (I  conjure  you  to  believe  me,  fellow  citi 
zens,)  the  jealousy  of  a  free  people  ought  to  be  CONSTANTLY  awake ; 
since  history  and  experience  prove  that  foreign  influence  is  one  of  the 
most  baneful  foes  of  republican  government.  But  that  jealousy,  to 
be  useful,  must  be  impartial ;  else  it  becomes  the  instrument  of  the 
very  influence  to  be  avoided,  instead  of  a  defense  against  it.  Exces 
sive  partiality  for  one  foreign  nation,  and  excessive  dislike  of  another, 
cause  those  whom  they  actuate,  to  see  danger  only  on  one  side,  and 
serve  to  vail  and  even  second  the  arts  of  influence  on  the  other. 
Real  patriots,  who  ma}7  resist  the  intrigues  of  the  favorite,  are  liable 
to  become  suspected  and  odious  ;  while  its  tools  and  dupes  usurp  the 
applause  and  confidence  of  the  people,  to  surrender  their  interests. 
The  great  rule  of  conduct  for  us,  in  regard  to  foreign  nations,  is,  in 
extending  our  commercial  relations,  to  have  with  them  as  little  polit 
ical  connection  as  possible.  So  far  as  we  have  already  formed 
engagements,  let  them  be  fulfilled  with  perfect  good  faith.  Here  let 
us  stop. 

Europe  has  a  set  of  primary  interests,  which  to  us  have  none,  or  a 
very  remote  relation.  Hence  she  must  be  engaged  in  frequent  con 
troversies,  the  causes  of  which  are  essentially  foreign  to  our  concerns. 
Hence,  therefore,  it  must  be  unwise  in  us  to  implicate  ourselves  by 
artificial  ties,  in  the  ordinary  vicissitudes  of  her  politics,  or  the  ordi 
nary  combinations  and  collisions  of  her  friendships  or  enmities. 
Our  detached  and  distant  situation  invites  and  enables  us  to  pursue  a 
different  course.  If  we  remain  one  people  under  an  efficient  govern- 


WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS.  525 

ment,  the  period  is  not  far  off  when  we  may  defy  material  injury 
from  external  annoyance ;  when  we  may  take  such  an  attitude  as 
will  cause  the  neutrality  we  may  at  any  time  resolve  upon,  to  be  scru 
pulously  respected  ;  when  belligerent  nations,  under  the  impossibility 
of  making  acquisitions  upon  us,  will  not  lightly  hazard  the  giving  us 
provocation  ;  when  we  may  choose  peace  or  war,  as  our  interest, 
guided  by  justice,  shall  counsel. 

Why  forego  the  advantages  of  so  peculiar  a  situation  ?  Why  quit 
our  own  to  stand  upon  foreign  ground?  Why,  by  interweaving  our 
destiny  with  any  part  of  Europe,  entangle  our  peace  and  prosperity 
in  the  toils  of  European  ambition,  rivalship,  interest,  humor,  or 
caprice  ?  It  is  our  true  policy  to  steer  clear  of  permanent  alliances 
with  any  portion  of  the  foreign  world  ;  so  far,  I  mean,  as  we  are  now 
at  liberty  to  do  it;  for  let  me  not  be  understood  as  capable  of  patron 
izing  infidelity  to  existing  engagements.  I  hold  the  maxim  no  less 
applicable  to  public  than  to  private  affairs,  that  honesty  is  always  the 
best  policy.  I  repeat  it,  therefore,  let  those  engagements  be  observed 
in  their  genuine  sense.  But,  in  my  opinion,  it  is  unnecessary,  and 
would  be  unwise  to  extend  them.  Taking  care  alwa}7s  to  keep 
ourselves,  by  suitable  establishments,  on  a  respectable  defensive 
posture,  we  may  safely  trust  to  temporary  alliances  for  extraordi 
nary  emergencies. 

Harmony,  and  a  liberal  intercourse  with  all  nations,  are  recommended 
by  policy,  humanity,  and  interest.  But  even  our  commercial  policy 
should  hold  an  equal  and  impartial  hand ;  neither  seeking  nor  grant 
ing  exclusive  favors  or  preferences  ;  consulting  the  natural  course  of 
things;  diffusing  and  diversifying,  by  gentle  means,  the  streams  of 
commerce,  but  forcing  nothing ;  establishing  with  powers  so  disposed, 
in  order  to  give  trade  a  stable  course,  to  define  the  rights  of  our  mer 
chants,  and  to  enable  the  government  to  support  them,  conventional 
rules  of  intercourse,  the  best  that  present  circumstances  and  mutual 
opinions  will  permit,  but  temporary,  and  liable  to  be  from  time  to  time 
abandoned  or  varied,  as  experience  and  circumstances  shall  dictate ; 
constantly  keeping  in  view,  that  it  is  folly  in  one  nation  to  look  for 
disinterested  favors  from  another;  that  it  must  pay  with  a  portion  of 
its  independence  for  whatever  it  may  accept  under  that  character ; 
that  by  such  acceptance,  it  may  place  itself  in  the  condition  of  hav 
ing  given  equivalents  for  nominal  favors,  and  yet  of  being  reproached 
with  ingratitude  for  not  giving  more.  There  can  be  no  greater  error 
than  to  expect  or  calculate  upon  real  favors  from  nation  to  nation. 
It  is  an  illusion  which  experience  must  cure,  which  a  just  pride 
ought  to  discard. 

In  offering  to  you,  my  countrymen,  these  counsels  of  an  old  and 
affectionate  friend,  I  dare  not  hope  they  will  make  the  strong  and 
lasting  impression  I  could  wish ;  that  they  will  control  the  usual  cur 
rent  of  the  passions,  or  prevent  our  nation  from  running  the  course 
which  has  hitherto  marked  the  destiny  of  nations ;  but  if  I  may  even 
flatter  myself  that  they  may  be  productive  of  some  partial  benefit, 
some  occasional  good  ;  that  they  may  now  and  then  recur  to  moder 
ate  the  fury  of  party  spirit,  to  warn  against  the  mischiefs  of  foreign, 
intrigues,  to  guard  against  the  impostures  of  pretended  patriotism ; 
this  frippe  will  be  a  full  recompense  for  the  solicitude  for  your  welfare, 


526  WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 

by  which  they  have  been  dictated.  How  far,  in  the  discharge  of  my 
official  duties,  I  have  been  guided  by  the  principles  which  have  been 
delineated,  the  public  records  and  other  evidences  of  my  conduct 
must  witness  to  you  and  the  world.  To  myself,  the  assurance  of 
my  own  conscience  is,  that  I  have  at  least  'believed  myself  to  be 
guided  by  them. 

In  relation  to  the  still  subsisting  war  in  Europe,  my  proclamation 
of  the  22d  of  April,  1793,  is  the  index  to  my  plan.  Sanctioned  by 
your  approving  voice  and  by  that  of  your  representatives  in  both 
Houses  of  Congress,  the  spirit  of  that  measure  has  continually  gov 
erned  me ;  uninfluenced  by  any  attempts  to  deter  or  divert  me  from 
it.  After  deliberate  examination,  with  the  aid  of  the  best  lights  I 
could  obtain,  I  was  well  satisfied  that  our  country,  under  all  the  cir 
cumstances  of  the  case,  had  a  right  to  take,  and  was  bound  in  duty 
and  interest  to  take  a  neutral  position.  Having  taken  it,  I  deter 
mined,  as  far  as  should  depend  upon  me,  to  maintain  it  with  modera 
tion,  perseverance  and  firmness. 

The  considerations  which  respects  the  right  to  hold  this  conduct,  it 
is  not  necessary  on  this  occasion  to  detail.  I  will  only  observe,  that 
according  to  rny  understanding  of  the  matter,  that  right,  so  far  from 
being  denied  by  any  of  the  belligerent  powers,  has  been  virtually 
admitted  by  all.  The  duty  of  holding  a  neutral  conduct  may  be 
inferred,  without  any  thing  more,  from  the  obligation  which  justice 
and  humanity  impose  on  every  nation,  in  cases  in  which  it  is  free 
to  act,  to  maintain  inviolate  the  relations  of  peace  and  amity  towards 
other  nations.  The  inducements  of  interest  for  observing  that  con 
duct  will  be  best  referred  to  your  own  reflections  and  experience. 
With  me,  a  predominant  motive  has  been  to  endeavor  to  gain  time  to 
our  country  to  settle  and  mature  its  yet  recent  institutions,  and  to 
progress,  without  interruption,  to  that  degree  of  strength  and  consist 
ency  which  is  necessary  to  give  it,  humanly  speaking,  the  command 
of  its  own  fortunes. 

Though  in  reviewing  the  incidents  of  my  administration,  I  am  un 
conscious  of  intentional  error,  I  am,  nevertheless,  too  sensible  of  my 
defects  not  to  think  it  probable  that  I  may  have  committed  many  errors. 
Whatever  they  may  be,  I  fervently  beseech  the  Almighty  to  avert  or 
mitigate  the  evils  to  which  they  may  tend.  I  shall  also  carry  with 
me  the  hope  that  my  country  will  never  cease  to  view  them  with 
indulgence ;  and  that  after  forty-five  years  of  my  life  dedicated  to  its 
service,  with  an  upright  zeal,  the  faults  of  incompetent  abilities  will 
be  consigned  to  oblivion,  as  myself  must  soon  be  to  the  mansions  of 
rest.  Relying  on  its  kindness  in  this  as  in  other  things,  and  actuated 
by  that  fervent  love  towards  it,  which  is  so  natural  to  a  man  who 
views  in  it  the  native  soil  of  himself  and  his  progenitors  for  several 
generations ;  I  anticipate  with  pleasing  expectation  that  retreat,  in 
which  I  promise  myself  to  realize  without  alloy,  the  sweet  enjoyment 
of  partaking,  in  the  midst  of  my  fellow-citizens,  the  benign  influence 
of  good  laws  under  a  free  government — the  ever-favorite  object  of  my 
heart,  and  the  happy  reward,  as  I  trust,  of  our  mutual  cares,  labors, 
and  dangers. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

UNITED  STATES,  September  17,  1796. 


'  THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE, 

IN  CONGRESS,  JULY  4,  1776. 


WHEN,  in  the  course  of  human  events,  it  becomes  necessary  for  one  people 
to  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have  connected  them  with  another,  and 
to  assume,  amongf  the  powers  of  the  earth,  the  separate  and  equal  station  to 
which  the  laws  ot  nature  and  of  nature's  God  entitle  them,  a  decent  respect 
to  the  opinions  of  mankind  requires  that  they  should  declare  the  causes 
•which  impel  them  to  the  separation. 

We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident:  that  all  men  are  created  equal ; 
that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  unalienable  rights  ;  that 
among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness ;  that,  to  secure  these 
rights,  governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from 
the  consent  of  the  governed  ;  that,  whenever  any  form  of  government  becomes 
destructive  of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter  or  to  abolish  it. 
and  to  institute  a  new  government,  laying  its  foundation  on  such  principles,  and 
organizing  its  powers  in  such  form,  as  to  them  shall  seem  most  likely  to  effect 
their  safety  and  happiness.  Prudence,  indeed,  will  dictate,  that  governments 
long  established,  should  not  be  changed  for  light  and  transient  causes.  And 
accordingly,  all  experience  hath  shown  that  mankind  are  more  disposed  to  suf 
fer,  while  evils  are  sufferable,  than  to  right  themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms 
to  which  they  are  accustomed.  But  when  a  long  train  of  abuses  and  usurpa 
tions,  pursuing  invariably  the  same  object,  evinces  a  design  to  reduce  them 
under  absolute  despotism,  it  is  their  right,  it  is  their  duty,  to  throw  off  such 
government,  and  to  provide  new  guards  for  their  future  security.  Such  has 
been  the  patient  sufferance  of  these  colonies ;  and  such  is  now  the  necessity 
which  constrains  them  to  alter  their  former  systems  of  government.  The  histo 
ry  of  the  present  King  of  Great  Britain  is  a  history  of  repeated  inj  uries  and  usur 
pations  ;  all  having  in  direct  object  the  establishment  of  an  absolute  tyranny 
over  these  states.  To  prove  this,  let  facts  l^e  submitted  to  a  candid  world. 

He  has  refused  his  assent  to  laws  the  most  wholesome  and  necessary  for 
the  public  good. 

He  has  forbidden  his  governors  to  pass  laws  of  immediate  and  pressing 
importance,  unless  suspended  in  their  operation  till  his  assent  should  be  ob 
tained  ;  and  when  so  suspended,  he  has  utterly  neglected  to  attend  to  them. 

He  has  refused  to  pass  other  laws  for  the  accommodation  of  large  districts 
of  people,  unless  those  people  would  relinquish  the  right  of  representation  in 
the  legislature  ;  a  right  inestimable  to  them,  and  formidable  to  tyrants  only. 

lie  has  called  together  legislative  bodies  at  places  unusual,  uncomfortable, 
and  distant  from  the  depository  of  their  public  records,  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  fatiguing  them  into  compliance  with  his  measures. 

He  has  dissolved  representative  houses  repeatedly,  for  opposing  with 
manly  firmness  his  invasions  on  the  rights  of  the  people. 

He  has  refused,  for  a  long  time  after  such  dissolutions,  to  cause  others  to  be 
elected,  whereby  the  legislative  powers,  incapable  of  annihilation,  have  re 
turned  to  the  people  at  large  for  their  exercise,  the  state  remaining,  in  the 
meantime,  exposed  to  all  the  danger  of  invasion  from  without  and~con\*ul- 
sions  within. 

He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  the  population  of  these  states  ;  for  that  pur 
pose  obstructing  the  laws  for  naturalization  of  foreigners ;  refusing  to 
pass  others  to  encourage  their  migration  hither ;  and  raising  the  conditions 
of  new  appropriations  of  lands. 

He  has  obstructed  the  administration  of  justice,  by  refusing  his  assent  to 
laws  for  establishing  judiciary  powers. 

He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  will  alone,  for  the  tenure  of  their 
offices  and  the  amount  and  payment  of  their  salaries. 

He  has  erected  a  multitude  of  new  offices,  and  sent  hither  swarms  of  offi 
cers  to  harrass  our  people  and  eat  out  their  substance. 


608  THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  peace,  standing  armies,  without  the  con. 
Bent  of  our  legislature. 

_  He  has  affected  to  render  the  military  independent  of,  and  superior  to,  the 
civil  power. 

He  has  combined  with  others  to  subject  us  to  a  jurisdiction  foreign  to  oiir 
constitution,  and  unacknowledged  by  our  laws ;  giving  his  assent  to  their 
acts  of  pretended  legislation  : 

For  quartering  large  bodies  of  armed  troops  among  us  ; 

For  protecting  them,  by  a  mock  trial,  from  punishment  for  any  murders 
which  they  should  commit  on  the  inhabitants  of  these  states  ; 

For  cutting  off  our  trade  with  all  parts  of  the  world ; 

For  imposing  taxes  on  us  without  our  consent ; 

For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  benefits  of  trial  by  ]'ury ; 

For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for  pretended  offenses  ; 

For  abolishing  the  free  system  of  English  laws  in  a  neighboring  province, 
establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  government,  and  enlarging  its  boundaries,  so 
as  to  render  it  at  once  an  example  and  fit  instrument  for  introducing  the 
same  absolute  rule  into  these  colonies ; 

For  taking  away  our  charters,  abolishing  our  most  valuable  laws,  and  alter 
ing,  fundamentally,  the  powers  of  our  governments  ; 

For  suspending  our  own  legislatures,  and  declaring  themselves  invested 
with  power  to  legislate  for  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 

He  lias  abdicated  government  here,  by  declaring  us  out  of  his  protection, 
and  waging  war  against  us. 

He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  coasts,  burned  our  towns,  and  de 
stroyed  the  lives  of  our  people. 

He  is  at  this  time  transporting  large  armies  of  foreign  mercenaries  to  com 
plete  the  works  of  death,  desolation  and  tyranny,  already  begun  with  circum 
stances  of  cruelty  and  perfidy  scarcely  parallelecl  in  the  most  barbarous  ages, 
and  totally  unworthy  the  head  of  a  civilized  nation. 

He  has  constrained  our  fellow-citizens,  taken  captive  on  the  high  seas,  to 
bear  arms  against  their  country,  to  become  the  executioners  of  their  friends 
and  brethren,  or  to  fall  themselves  by  their  hands. 

He  has  excited  domestic  insurrections  amongst  us,  and  has  endeavored  to 
bring  on  the  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers  the  merciless  Indian  savages,  whose 
known  rule  of  warfare  is  an  undistinguished  destruction  of  all  ages,  sexes  and 
conditions. 

In  every  stage  of  these  oppressions,  we  have  petitioned  for  redress  in  the 
most  humble  terms  ;  our  repeated  petitions  have  been  answered  only  by  re 
peated  injury.  A  prince  whose  character  is  thus  marked  by  every  act  which 
may  define  a  tyrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people. 

Nor  have  we  been  wanting  in  attention  to  our  British  brethren.  We  have 
warned  them,  from  time  to  time,  of  attempts  made  by  their  legislature  to  ex 
tend  an  unwarrantable  jurisdiction  over  us.  We  have  reminded  them  of  the 
circumstances  of  our  emigration  and  settlement  here.  We  have  appealed  to 
their  native  justice  and  magnanimity,  and  we  have  conjured  them  by  the  ties 
of  our  common  kindred,  to  disavow  these  usurpations,  which  would  inevi 
tably  interrupt  our  connections  and  correspondence.  They,  too,  have  been 
deaf  to  the  voice  of  justice  and  consanguinity.  We  must,  therefore,  acqui 
esce  in  the  necessity  which  denounces  our  separation,  and  hold  them  as  we 
hold  the  rest  of  mankind — enemies  in  war— in  peace,  friends.  . 

We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  gen 
eral  Congress  assembled,  appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  world  for 
the  rectitude  of  our  intentions,  do,  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
good  people  of  these  colonies,  solemnly  publish  and  declare  that  these  united 
colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be.  free  and  independent  states;  that  they 
are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  that  all  political 
connection  between  them  and  the  state  of  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be, 
totally  dissolved,  and  that,  as  free  and  independent  states,  they  have  full 
power  to  levy  war,,  conclude  peace,  contract  alliances,  establish  commerce, 
and  to  do  all  other  acts  and  things  which  independent  states  mav  of  right  do. 
And  for  the  support  of  this  declaration,  with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  protection 
of  Divine  Providence,  we  mutually  pledge  to  each  other  our  lives,  our  for 
tunes,  and  our  sacred  honor. 


SIGNERS   OF  THE   DECLARATION   OF   INDEPENDENCE. 

With  the  places  and  dates  of  their  births  and  deaths. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

NAMES    OF  THE    SIGNERS,  BORN    AT  DIED. 

JOHN  HANCOCK, Braintree,  Mass.,         in 1737 8th  Oct.,  1793 

SAMUEL  ADAMS, Boston,          "       22d  Sept., 1722 2d  Oct.,  1803 

JOHN  ADAMS,, Braintree,     "       19th  Oct., 1735 4th  July,  1826 

ROBERT  TREAT  PAINE, Boston,          "              in 1731 llth  May,  1814 

ELBRIDOK  GERRY, Marblehead,"        17th  July, 1744 23d  Nov.,  1814 

NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

JOSIAH  BARTLETT Arnesbury,  Mass.,        in  Nov.,..  1729.. ..  19th  May,  1795 

WILLIAM   WHIPPLE, Kiltery,  Maine.           in 1730 28th  Nov.,  1785 

MATTHEW  THORNTON, Ireland,                        in 1714.... 24th  June,  1803 

RHODE    ISLAND. 

STEPHEN  HOPKINS, Scituate,    Mass.,     7th  March,. .  1707 19th  July,  1785 

WILLIAM  ELLKRY, Newport,  R.  1 ,       22d    Dec.,...  1727....  15th  Feb.,  1820 

CONNECTICUT. 

ROGER  SHERMAN Newton,  Mass.,      19th  April, ...1721 23d  July,  1793 

SAMUKL  HUNTINGTON Windham,  Conn.,  3d    July, 1732 5th  Jan.,  1796 

WILLIAM  WILLIAMS Lebanon,        "        8th  April, ...1731 2d  Aug.,  1811 

OLIVER  WOLCOTT, Windsor,        "      2Gth  Nov 1726 1st  Dec.,  1797 

NEW    YORK. 

WILLIAM  FLOYD, Surtblkco.,N.  Y.,  17th  Dec., 1734 4th  Aug.,  1821 

PHILIP  LIVINGSTON Albany,  N.  Y.,      15th  Jan 1716 12th  June,  1778 

FRANCIS  LEWIS Landaff,  Wales,          in  March,  1713 30th  Dec.,  1803 

LEWIS  MORRIS, Morrisiuim,  N.  Y,      in 1726..  ..22(1  Jan.,  1798 

NEW    JERSEY. 

RICHARD  STOCKTON Princeton,  N.  J.,      1st  Oct., 1730 28th  Feb.,     1781 

JOHN  WITHKRSPOON Yester,  Scotland,    5th  Feb., 1722 15th  Nov.,    1794 

FRANCIS  HOPKINSON, Philadelphia,  Penn.,    in 1737 9th  May,      1790 

JOHN  HART, Hopewell,  N.  J.,      about 1715 ,    1780 

ABRAHAM  CLARK, Eliza beth'n,  N.  J.,15th  Feb., 1726 June,    1794 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

ROBERT  MORRIS, Lancashire,  England,    Jan., 1733 8th  May,       1806 

BENJAMIN  RUSH,  M.  D Byperry,  Penn,,    24th  Dec 1745 19th  April,  1813 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN Boston,  Mass.,       17th  Jan., J706 17th  April,  1790 

JOHN  MORTON Ridley,  Penn.,  in 1724.... April,  1777 

GEORGE  CLYMKR Philadelphia,  Penn.,   in 1739.  ...24th  Jan.,     1813 

JAM ES  SMITH Ireland . . . .  llth  July,     1806 

GEORGE  TAYLOR Ireland,  in 1716 23d  Feb.,       1781 

JAMES    WILSON, Scotland,  about 1742 2Sth  Aug.,    1798 

GEORGE  Ross, New  Castle,  Del.,         in 1730. . . . July,     1779 

DELAWARE. 

CAESAR  RODNEY, Dover,  Delaware,        in 1730 ,  1783 

GEORGE  READ Cecil  co.,  Maryland,   in 1734 ,  1798 

THOMAS  M-KEON, Chester  co.,  Pa.,  19th  March,  ..  1734 24th  June,  1817 

MARYLAND. 

SAMUEL  CHASE, Somerset  co.,  Md  ,  17th  April,...  1741  ....19th  June,  1811 

WILLIAM  PACA Wye  Hill,  Md.,     31st  Oct 174U.... ,  1799 

THOMAS  STONE Charles  co.,  Md.,         in 1742 5th  Oct.,  1787 

CHARLES  CARROLL,  of  Currollton,  Annapolis,  Md.,     20th  Sept., . . .  1737. . . .  14th  Nov.,  1832 

VIRGINIA. 

GEORGE  WYTHE, Elizabeth  city,  Va.,     in 1726 8th  June,  1806 

RICHARD  HENRY  LEE, .Stratford,  Va.,      20th  Jan 1732 19th  June,  1794 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON Shad  well,    "          13th  April,    ..1743.... 4th  July,  1826 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON, Berkely,      " .... April,  1791 

THOMAS  NELSON,  JR., York,          "         26th  Dec., 1738 4th  Jan.,  1789 

FRANCIS  LIGHTFOOT  LEE, Stratford,    "         14th  Oct.,  ....1734 April,  1797 

CARTER   BRAXTON, Newington,"          10th  Sept 1736 10th  Oct.,  1797 

NORTH    CAROLINA. 

WILLIAM  HOOPER, Boston,  Mass.,       17th  June, 1742 Oct.,  1790 

JOSEPH  HE  WES, Kingston,  N.  J.,          in 1730 10th  Nov.,  1779 

JOHN  PENN, Carolineco., Va.,  17th  May 1741.... Sept.,  1788 

SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

EDWARD  RUTLEDOE Charleston,  S.  C.,        in  Nov.,  ..1749 23d  Jan.,       1800 

THOMAS  HKYWARD,  JR St.  Luke's      "  in 1746.... March,  1809 

THOMAS  LYNCH,  JR., St.  George's    "      5th  Aug., 1749  lost  at  sea,          1779 

ARTHUR  MIDDLKTON, Middleton  Place,  S.C.in 1743 1st  Jan.,       1787 

GEORGIA. 

BUTTON  GWINNETT, England,  in 1732..  ..27th  May,  1777 

LYMAN  HALL Connecticut,  in 1731 Feb.,  1790 

GEORQK  WALTON, Frederick  co.,  Va.      in 1740. . .  .2d  Feb.,  1804 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


WE  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  Union, 
establish  Justice,  insure  domestic  Tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  de 
fense,  promote  the  general  Welfare,  and  secure  the  Blessings  of  Liberty  to 
ourselves  and  our  Posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution  for 
the  United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE    I. 

SECTION-  1.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in  a  Con 
gress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives. 

SECTION  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  Members 
chosen  every  second  Year  by  the  People  of  the  se-veral  States,  and  the  Elec 
tors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  Qualifications  requisite  for  Electors  of  the 
most  numerous  Branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

No  person  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age 
of  twenty-five  Years,  and  been  seven  Years  a  Citizen  of  the  United  States, 
and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  Inhabitant  of  that  State  in  which  he 
shall  be  chosen. 

Representatives  and  direct  Taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  several 
States  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their  repective 
Numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to  the  whole  Nuniber  of 
free  Persons,  including  those  bound  to  Service  for  a  Term  of  Years,  and  ex 
cluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  Persons.  The  actual 
Enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  Years  after  the  first  Meeting  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every  subsequent  Term  of  ten 
Years,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  by  Law  direct.  The  Number  of  Repre 
sentatives  shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  Thousand  ;  but  each  State 
shall  have  at  Least  one  Representative  ;  and  until  such  enumeration  shall  be 
made,  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose  three,  Massa 
chusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations  one,  Connecticut 
five,  New  York  six,  New  Jersey  four,  Pennsylvania  eight,  Delaware  one, 
Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North  Carolina  live,  South  Carolina  five,  and 
Georgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  Representation  from  any  State,  the  Execu 
tive  Authority  thereof  shall  issue  Writs  of  Election  to  fill  such  Vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and  other  offi 
cers;  and  shall  have  the  sole  Power  of  Impeachment. 

SECTION  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  bo  composed  of  two 
Senators  from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  thereof,  lor  six  Years  ; 
and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  Vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  Consequence  of  the  first 
Election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  Classes.  The 
Class  sh 


f  the  Senators  of  the  first  Class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  Expiration  of 
the  second  Year,  of  the  second  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the  fourth  Year, 
and  of  the  third  Class  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  Year,  so  that  one-third 
may  be  chosen  every  second  year;  and  if  Vacancies  happen  by  Resignation, 
or  otherwise,  during  the  Recess  of  the  Legislature  of  any  State,  the  Execu 
tive  thereof  may  make  temporary  Appointments  xmtil  the  next  Meeting  of 
the  Legislature,  which  shall  then  fill  such  Vacancies. 

No  Person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age  of 
thirty  Years,  and  been  nine  Years  a  Citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who 
shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  Inhabitant  of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be 
chosen. 

The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President  of  the  Senate, 
but  shall  have  no  Vote,  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 


CONSTITUTION   OF  THE    UNITED   STATES.  611 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  Officers,  and  also  a  President  pro  tern- 
pore,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice  President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise  the 
Office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments :  When  sit 
ting  for  that  Purpose,  they  shall  be  on  Oath,  or  Affirmation.  When  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  Chief  Justice  shall  preside :  and  no 
Person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  Concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the 
Members  present. 

Judgment  in  Cases  of  Impeachment  shall  not  exend  further  than  to  re 
moval  from  Office,  and  Disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  Office  of  Honor, 
Trust,  or  Profit  under  the  United  States  :  but  the  party  convicted  shall  nev 
ertheless  be  liable  and  subject  to  Indictment,  Trial,  Judgment,  and  Punish 
ment,  according  to  Law.  * 

SECTION  4.  The  Times,  Places,  and  Manner  of  holding  Elections  for  Sena 
tors  and  Representatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  State  by  the  Legislature 
thereof;  but  the  Congress  may  at  any  time  by  Law  make  of  alter  such  Reg 
ulations,  except  as  to  the  places  of  chusing  Senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  Year,  and  such  meeting 
shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by  Law  appoint 
a  different  day. 

SECTION  5.  Each  House  shall  be  the  Judge  of  the  Elections,  Returns,  and 
Qualifications  of  its  own  Members,  and  a  Majority  of  each  shall  constitute  a 
Quorum  to  do  Business;  but  a  smaller  Number  may  adjourn  from  day  to 
day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  Attendance  of  absent  Members,  in 
such  Manner,  and  under  such  Penalties  as  each  House  may  provide. 

Each  House  may  determine  the  Rules  of  its  ProcecdingSj  punish  its  Mem 
bers  for  disorderly  Behaviour,  and,  with  the  Concurrence  oi  two-thirds,  expel 
a  Member. 

Each  House  shall  keep  a  Journal  of  its  Proceedings,  and  from  time  to  time 

gnblish  the  same,  excepting  such  Parts  as  may  in  their  Judgment  require 
ecrecy ;  and  the  Yeas  and  Nays  of  the  Members  of  either  House  on  any 
Question  shall,  at  the  Desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  Present,  be  entered  on  the 
Journal. 

Neither  House,  during  the  Session  of  Congress,  shall,  without  the  Consent 
of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  Place  than 
that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall  be  sitting. 

SECTION  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a  Compensation 
for  their  Services,  to  be  ascertained  by  Law,  and  paid  out  of  the  Treasury 
of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in  all  Cases,  except  Treason,  Felony,  and 
Breach  of  the  Peace,  be  privileged  from  Arrest  during  their  Attendance  at 
the  Session  of  their  respective  Houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from 
the  same ;  and  for  any  Speech  or  Debate  in  either  House,  they  shall  not  be 
questioned  in  any  other  Place. 

No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which  he  was 
elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  Office  under  the  Authority  of  the  United 
States2  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  Emoluments  whereof  shall  have 
been  increased  during  such  time  ;  and  no  Person  holding  any  office  under 
the  United  States,  shall  be  a  Member  of  either  House  during  his  Continu 
ance  in  office. 

SECTION  7.  All  Bills  for  raising  Revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House  of 
Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  Amendments 
as  on  other  Bills. 

Every  Bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  house  of  Representatives  and  the 
Senate,  shall,  before  it  become  a  Law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States :  if  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it,  but  if  not  he  shall  return  it, 
with  his  Objections,  to  that  House  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who 
shall  enter  the  Objections  at  large  on  their  Journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider 
it.  If,  after  such  Reconsideration,  two-thirds  of  that  House  shall  agree  to 
pass  the  Bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  Objections,  to  the  other 
House,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two- 
thirds  of  that  House,  it  shall  become  a  Law.  But  in  all  such  Cases  the  Votes 
of  both  Houses  shall  be  determined  by  Yeas  and  Nays,  and  the  Names  of  the 
Persons  voting  for  and  against  the  Bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  Journal  of 


612  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

each  House  respectively.  If  any  Bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President 
\vithiu  ten  Days  (Sundays  excepted)  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to 
him,  the  Same  shall  be  a  Law,  in  like  Manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless 
the  Congress  by  their  Adjournment  prevent  its  Return,  in  which  Case  it 
shall  not  be  a  Law. 

Every  Order,  Resolution,  or  Vote  to  which  the  Concurrence  of  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a  question  of  ad 
journment),  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the  United  States;  and 
before  the  Same  shall  take  Effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or  being  disap 
proved  by  him,  shall  be  repasscd  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives,  according  to  the  Rules  and  Limitations  prescribed  in  the 
Case  of  a  Bill. 
•  SECTION  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  Power 

To  lay  and  collect  Taxes,  Duties,  Imposts,  and  Excises ;  to  pay  the  Debts 
and  provide  for  the  common  Defense  and  general  Welfare  of"  the  United 
States  ;  but  all  Duties,  Imposts,  and  Excises  shall  be  uniform  throughout  the 
United  States ; 

To  borrow  Money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States  ; 

To  regulate  Commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the  several  States, 
and  with  the  Indian  tribes : 

To  establish  an  uniform  Rule  of  Naturalization,  and  uniform  Laws  on  the 
subject  of  Bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States  ; 

To  coin  Money,  regulate  the  Value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  Coin,  and  fix 
the  Standard  of  Weights  and  Measures  ; 

To  provide  for  the  Punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  Securities  and  current 
Coin  of  the  United  States  ; 

To  establish  Post  Offices  and  Post  Roads  ; 

To  promote  the  progress  of  Science  and  useful  Arts,  by  securing  for  limited 
Times  to  Authors  and  Inventors  the  exclusive  Right  to  their  respective 
Writings  and  Discoveries ; 

To  constitute  Tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court ; 

To  define  and  punish  Piracies  and  Felonies  committed  on  the  high  Seas, 
and  Offenses  against  the  Law  of  Nations  ; 

To  declare  War,  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal,  and  make  Rules 
concerning  Captures  on  Land  and  Water ; 

To  raise  and  support  Armies ;  but  no  Appropriation  of  Money  to  that  Use 
shall  be  for  a  longer  Term  than  two  Years  ; 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  Navy  ; 

To  make  Rules  for  the  Government  and  Regulation  of  the  Land  and  Naval 
Forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  Militia  to  execute  the  Laws  of  the  Union, 
suppress  Insurrections,  and  repel  Invasions. 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  Militia,  and  for 
governing  such  Part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  Service  of  the 
United  States — reserving  to  the  States  respectively,  the  appointment  of  the 
Officers,  and  the  Authority  of  training  the  Militia  according  to  the  Discipline 
prescribed  by  Congress ; 

To  exercise  exclusive  Legislation  in  all  Cases  whatsoever,  over  such  Dis 
trict  (not  exceeding  ten  Miles  square)  as  may,  by  Cession  of  particular  States, 
and  the  Acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  Seat  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  exercise  like  Authority  over  all  Places  purchased  by 
the  Consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  which  the  Same  shall  be,  for 
the  Erection  of  Forts,  Magazines,  Arsenals,  Dockyards,  and  other  needful 
Buildings ; — And 

To  make  all  Laws  whi,ch  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying  into 
Execution  the  foregoing  Powers,  and  all  other  Powers  vested  by  this  Consti 
tution  in  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  Department  or 
Officer  thereof. 

SECTION  9.  The  Migration  or  Importation  of  such  Persons  as  any  of  the 
States  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited  by 
the  Congress  prior  to  the  Year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a 
Tax  or  Duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  Importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars 
for  each  Person. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES.  613 

The  Privilege  of  the  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  shall  not  be  suspended,  unless 
when  in  Cases  of  Kebellion  or  Invasion  the  public  Safety  may  require  it. 

No  Bill  of  Attainder  or  ex  post  Facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

No  Capitation,  or  other  direct  Tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in  Proportion  to 
the  Census  or  Enumeration  herein  before  directed  to  be  taken. 

No  Tax  or  Duty  shall  be  laid  on  Articles  exported  from  any  State. 

No  Preference  shall  be  given  by  any  Regulation  of  Commerce  or  Revenue 
to  the  Ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another ;  nor  shall  Vessels  bound  to, 
or  from,  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  Duties  in  another. 

No  Money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  "in  Consequence  of  Appro 
priations  made  by  law  •  and  a  regular  Statement  and  Account  of  the  Receipts 
and  Expenditures  of  all  public  Money  shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

No  Title  of  Nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States :  And  no  Per 
son  holding  any  Office  of  Profit  or  Trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the 
Consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  Present,  Emolument,  Office,  or  Title, 
of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  King,  Prince,  or  Foreign  State. 

SECTION  10.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  Treaty,  Alliance,  or  Confedera 
tion  ;  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal ;  coin  Money,  emit  Bills  of  Credit ; 
make  any  Thing  but  gold  and  silver  Coin  a  Tender  in  Payment  of  Debts ; 
pass  any  Bill  of  Attainder,  ex  post  facto  Law,  or  Law  impairing  the  Obliga 
tion  of  Contracts,  or  grant  any  Title  of  Nobility. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  Imposts  or 
Duties  on  Imports  or  Exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for 
executing  its  inspection  Laws :  and  the  net  Produce  of  all  Duties  and  Im 
posts,  laid  by  any  State  on  Imports  or  Exports,  shall  be  for  the  Use  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States ;  and  all  such  Laws  shall  be  subject  to  the 
Revision  and  Control  of  Congress. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  or  Congress,  lay  any  Duty  on  Ton 
nage,  keep  Troops,  or  Ships-of-War  in 'time  of  Peace,  enter  into  any  Agree 
ment  or  Compact  with  another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  Power,  or  engage  in 
War,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  Danger  as  will  not  admit 
of  Delay. 

ARTICLE    II. 

SECTION  1.  The  executive  Power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  Office  during  the  Term  of  four 
Years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice  President,  chosen  for  the  same  Term,  be 
elected,  as  follows : 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  Manner  as  the  Legislature  thereof  may 
direct,  a  Number  of  Electors,  equal  to  the  whole  Number  of  Senators  and 
Representatives  to  which  the  State  may  be  entitled  in  the  Congress :  but  no 
Senator  or  Representative,  or  Person  holding  an  Office  of  Trust  or  Profit 
under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  Elector. 

[The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by  ballot  for 
two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same 
State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a  list  of  all  the  persons  voted 
for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each  ;  which  list  they  shall  sign  and  cer 
tify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  President  of  the  Senate  shall, 
in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  cer 
tificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted^.  The  person  having  the  great 
est  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of 
the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who 
have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  then  the  House  of 
Representatives  shall  immediately  choose  by  ballot  one  of  them  for  Presi 
dent  ;  and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  five  highest  on  the 
list  the  said  House  shall  in  like  manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choos 
ing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  States— the  representation 
from  each  State  having  one  vote  ;  the  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist 
of  a  member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all 
the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  In  every  case,  after  the  choice  of 
the  President,  the  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  of  the  electors 
shall  be  the  Vice  President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more  who 


614  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES. 

have  equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them  by  ballot  the  Vice 
President.]  (See  Article  XIL  of  Amendments  to  the  Constitution.) 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  Time  of  chusing  the  Electors,  and  the 
Day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  Votes ;  which  Day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 

No  Person  except  a  natural  born  Citizen,  or  a  Citizen  of  the  United  States 
at  the  time  of  the  Adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to  the 
Office  of  President ;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that  Office  who 
shall  not  have  attained  to  the  Age  of  thirty-five  Years,  and  been,  fourteen 
Years  a  Resident  within  the  United  States. 

In  Case  of  the  Removal  of  the  President  from  Office,  or  of  his  Death,  Re 
signation,  or  Inability  to  discharge  the  Powers  and  Duties  of  the  said  office, 
the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice  President,  and  the  Congress  may  by  Law 
provide  for  the  Case  of  Removal,  Death?  Resignation  or  Inability,  both  of 
the  President  and  Vice  President,  declaring  what  Officer  shall  then  act  as 
President,  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until  the  Disability  be  re 
moved,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  Times,  receive  for  his  Services,  a  Compensa 
tion,  which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  during  the  Period  for 
which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not  receive  within  that  Period 
any  other  Emolument  from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

Before  he  enter  on  the  Execution  of  his  Office,  he  shall  take  the  following 
Oath  or  Affirmation : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  Office  of 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  will  to  the  best  of  my  Ability,  preserve, 
protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States." 

SECTION  2.  The  President  shall  be  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Militia  of  the  several  States,  when 
called  into  the  actual  Service  of  the  United  States  ;  he  may  require  the  Opin 
ion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  Officer  in  each  of  the  executive  Departments, 
upon  any  Subject  relating  to  the  Duties  of  their  respective  Offices,  and  he 
shall  have  Power  to  grant  Reprieves  and  Pardons  for  Offenses  against  the 
United  States,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeachment. 

He  shall  have  Power,  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  the  Senate, 
to  make  Treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present  concur;  and  he 
shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  the  Senate,  shall 
appoint  Ambassadors,  other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls,  Judges  of  the 
supreme  Court,  and  all  other  Officers  of  the  United  States,  whose  appoint 
ments  are  not  herein  hitherto  provided  for,  and  which  shall  be  established  by 
Law  :  but  the  Congress  may  by  Law  vest  the  Appointment  of  such  inferior 
Officers,  as  they  think  proper,  m  the  President  alone,  in  the  Courts  of  Law, 
or  in  the  Heads  of  Departments. 

The  President  shall  have  Power  to  fill  up  all  Vacancies  that  ntay  happen 
during  the  Recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  Commissions  which  shall  expire 
at  the  End  of  their  next  Session. 

SECTION  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congress  Information  of 
the  State  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  Consideration  such  Measures 
as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient ;  he  may,  on  extraordinary  Occa 
sions,  convene  both  Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  Case  of  Disagreement 
between  them,  with  Respect  to  the  Time  of  Adjournment,  he  may  adjourn 
them  to  such  Time  as  he  shall  think  proper ;  he  shall  receive  Ambassadors 
and  other  public  Ministers ;  he  shall  take  Care  that  the  Laws  be  faithfully 
executed,  and  shall  Commission  all  the  officers  of  the  United  States. 

SECTION  4.  The  President,  Vice  President,  and  all  civil  Officers  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  Office  on  Impeachment  for,  and  Con 
viction  of,  Treason,  Bribery,  or  other  high  Crimes  or  Misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE    III. 

SECTION  1.  The  judicial  Power  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  vested  in  one 
supreme  Court,  and  in  such  inferior  Courts  as  the  Congress  may  from  time 
to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The  Judges,  both  of  the  supreme  and  inferior 
Courts,  shall  hold  their  Offices  during  good  Behavior,  and  shall,  at  stated 


CONSTITUTION   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES.  615 

Times,  receive  for  their  Services,  a  Compensation,  which  shall  not  be  dimin 
ished  during  their  Continuance  in  Office. 

SECTION  2.  The  judicial  Power  shall  extend  to  all  Cases,  in  Law  and 
Equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  Laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  Authority ; — to  all  cases 
affecting  Ambassadors,  other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls ; — to  all  Cases  of 
admiralty  and  maritime  Jurisdiction  ;— to  Controversies  to  which  the  United 
States  snail  be  a  Party  ; — to  Controversies  between  two  or  more  States  ; — • 
between  a  State  and  Citizen  of  another  State  ;-*— between  Citizens  of  different 
States  ; — between  Citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming  Lands  under  Grants  of 
different  States,  and  between  a  State,  or  the  Citizens  thereof,  and  foreign 
States,  Citizens  or  Subjects. 

In  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors,  other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls, 
and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  a  Party,  the  supreme  Court  shall  have 
original  Jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other  Cases  before  mentioned,  the  supreme 
Court  shall  have  appellate  Jurisdiction,  both  as  to  Law  and  Fact,  with  such 
Exceptions'  and  under  such  Regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  Trial  of  alf  Crimes,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeachment,  shall  be  by  Jury  ; 
and  such  Trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the  said  Crimes  shall  have 
been  committed;  but  when  not  committed  within  any  State,  the  Trial  shall 
be  at  such  Place  or  Places  as  the  Congress  may  by  Law  have  directed. 

SECTION  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States,  shall  consist  only  in  levying 
War  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  Enemies,  giving  them  Aid  and 
Comfort. 

No  Person  shall  be  convicted  of  Treason,  unless  on  the  Testimony  of  two 
Witnesses  to  the  same  overt  Act,  or  on  Confession  in  open  Court. 

The  Congress  shall  'have  Power  to  declare  the  Punishment  of  Treason, 
but  no  Attainder  of  Treason  shall  work  Corruption  of  Blood,  or  Forfeiture 
except  during  the  life  of  the  Person  attainted. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

SECTION  1.  Full  Faith  and  Credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the  public 
Acts,  Records,  and  judicial  Proceedings  of  every  other  State.  And  the  Con 
gress  may  by  general  Laws  prescribe  the  Manner  in  which  such  Acts,  Records 
and  Proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

SECTION  2.  The  Citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  Privileges 
and  Immunities  of  Citizens  in  the  several  States. 

A  Person  charged  in  any  State  with  Treason,  Felony,  or  other  Crime,  who 
shall  flee  from  Justice,  and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall  on  Demand  of 
the  executive  Authority  of  the  State  from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to 
be  removed  to  the  State  having  Jurisdiction  of  the  Crime. 

No  person  held  to  Service  or  Labor  in  one  State,  under  the  Laws  thereof 
escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  Consequence  of  any  Law  or  Regulation  therein, 
be  discharged  from  such  Service  or  Labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on 
Claim  of  the  Party  to  whom  such  Service  or  Labor  may  be  due. 

SECTION  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this  Union ; 
but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  Jurisdiction  of  any 
other  State-  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  Junction  of  two  or  more  States, 
or  Parts  of  States,  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  con 
cerned  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needful  Rules 
and  Regulations  respecting  the  Territory  or  other  Property  belonging  to  the 
United  States ;  and  nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to 
Prejudice  any  Claims  of  the  United  States,  or  of  any  particular  State. 

SECTION  4.  The  United  States  shall  guaranty  to  every  State  in  this  Union  a 
Republican  Form  of  Government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against  In 
vasion  ;  and  on  Application  of  the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Executive  (when 
the  Legislature  can  not  be  convened)  against  domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE    V. 
The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  Houses  shall  deem  it  neces- 


616 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


sary,  shall  propose  Amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the  Application 
of  the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  States,  shall  call  a  Conven 
tion  for  proposing  Amendments,  which,  in  either  Case,  shall  be  valid  to  all 
Intents  and  Purposes,  as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  Le 
gislatures  of  three-fourths  of  the  several  States,  or  by  Conventions  in  three- 
lourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  Mode  of  Ratification  may  be  proposed 
by  the  Congress  •  Provided  that  no  Amendment  which  may  be  made  prior 
to  the  Year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in  any  Manner  atfect 
the  first  and  fourth  Clauses  in  the  Ninth  Section  of  the  first  Article  ;  and 
that  no  State,  without  its  Consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  Sull'rage  in 
the  Senate. 

ARTICLE    VI. 

All  Debts  contracted  and  Engagements  entered  into,  before  the  Adoption 
of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under  this 
Constitution,  as  under  the  Confederation. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  Laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall  be  made 
in  Pursuance  thereof-  and  all  Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under 
the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  supreme  Law  of  the  Land ; 
and  the  Judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  any  thing  in  the  Con 
stitution  or  Laws  of  any  State  to  the  Contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the  Members  of 
the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial  Officers,  both  of 
the  United  States  and  of  the  several  States,  shall  be  bound  by  Oath  or 
Affirmation  to  support  this  Constitution ;  but  no  religious  Test  shall  ever  be 
required  as  a  Qualification  to  any  Office  or  public  Trust  under  the  United 
States. 

AETICLE    VII. 

The  Ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  States  shall  be  sufficient  for 
the  Establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the  States  so  ratifying  the 
Same. 

DONE  in  Convention  by  the  Unanimous  Consent  of  the  States  present,  the 
Seventeenth  Day  of  September,  in  the  Year,  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  Eighty-seven,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  the  Twelfth.  IN  WITNESS  whereof  We  have  hereunto 
subscribed  our  Names.  GEO.  WASHINGTON, 

President,  and  deputy  from  Virginia. 


New  Hampshire. 

JOHN  LANGDON, 
NICHOLAS  GILMAN. 

Massachusetts. 
NATHANIEL  GORHAJS, 
RUFUS  KING. 

Connecticut 

WM.  SAMUEL  JOHNSON, 
ROGER  SHERMAN. 

New  York. 
ALEXANDER  HAMILTON. 

New  Jersey. 
WILLIAM  LIVINGSTON, 
DAVID  BREARLEY, 
WILLIAM  PATERSON, 
JONATHAN  DAYTON. 


Pennsylvania. 
BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN, 
THOMAS  MIFFLIN, 
ROBERT  MORRIS, 
GEORGE  CLYMER, 
THOMAS  FITZSIMONS, 
JARKD  INGERSOLL, 
JAMES  WILSON, 
GOUVERNEUR  MORRIS. 

Delaware. 
GEORGE  REED, 

JR., 


Virginia. 
JOHN  BLAIR, 
JAMES  MADISON,  JR. 

North  Carolina. 
WILLIAM  BLOUNT, 
RICHARD  DOBBS  SPAIGHT, 
HUGH  WILLIAMSON. 

South  Carolina. 
CHARLES  C.  PINCKNEY, 


JOHN  DICKINSON, 
RICHARD  BASSETT, 
JACOB  BROOM. 

Maryland. 
JAMES  M 'HENRY, 


Georgia. 
WILLIAM  FEW, 
ABRAHAM  BALDWIN. 


DANIEL  OF  ST.  THOS.  JENIFER, 
DANIEL  CARROLL. 
Attest.-  WILLIAM  JACKSON,  Secretary. 


•  ARTICLES 

IN   ADDITION  TO, 

AND  AMENDMENT  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION 

or 
THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Proposed  by  Congress,  and  ratified  by  the  legislatures  of  the  several  States  pursuant  to 
the  fifth,  article  of  the  original  Constitution. 

ARTICLE  THE  FIRST.  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establish 
ment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the 
freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press  ;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to 
assemble,  and  to  petition  the  Government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  THE  SECOND.  A  well-regulated  Militia  being  necessary  to  the 
security  of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  Arms,  shall 
not  be  infringed. 

ARTICLE  THE  THIRD.  No  Soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace  be  quartered  in 
any  house,  without  the  consent  of  the  Owner,  nor  in  a  time  of  war,  but  in  a 
manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE  THE  FOURTH.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  per 
sons,  houses,  papers,  and  effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures, 
shall  not  be  violated,  and  no  Warrants  shall  issue,  but  upon  probable  cause, 
supported  by  Oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be 
searched,  and  the  person  or  things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE  THE  FIFTH.  _  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital,  or 
otherwise  infamous  crimej  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of  a  Grand 
Jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  Militia, 
when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  War  or  public  danger  ;  nor  shall  anv  per 
son  be  subject  for  the  same  offense  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or 
limb  ;  nor  shall  be  compelled  in  any  Criminal  Case  to  be  a  witness  against 
himself,  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of 
law;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use,  without  just  com 
pensation. 

ARTICLE  THE  SIXTH.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy 
the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  State  and 
district  wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  wnich  district  shall 
have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature 
and  cause  of  the  accusation  ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him  ; 
to  have  Compulsory  process  for  obtaining  Witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have 
the  Assistance  of  Counsel  for  his  defense. 

ARTICLE  THE  SEVENTH.  In  Suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  con 
troversy  shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  pre 
served,  and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury,  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any 
court  of  the  United  States,  than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  THE  EIGHTH.  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive 
fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 


618 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES. 


_  ARTICLE  THE  NINTH.  The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain 
rights,  shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the 
people. 

ARTICLE  THE  TENTH.  The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States,  by 
the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  stutcs,  are  reserved  to  the  states 
respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE  THE  ELEVENTH.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall 
not  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law'  or  equity  ?  commenced  or  pros 
ecuted  against  one  of  the  United  States  by  Citizens  ol  another  State,  or  by 
Citizens  or  Subjects  of  any  Foreign  State. 

ARTICLE  THE  TWELFTH.  The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States, 
and  vote  by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice  President,  one  of  whom,  at  least, 
shall  not  bean  inhabitant  of  the  same  state  with  themselves;  they  shall 
name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as  President,  and  in  distinct  bal 
lots  the  person  voted  for  as  Vice  President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct 
lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  President,  and  of  all 'persons  voted  for  as 
Vice  President,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  lists  they  shall 
sign  and  certify  j  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate ; — The  President  of 
the  Senate  shall,  in  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives, 
open  all  the  certificates  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted ; — the  person 
having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President,  shall  be  the  President,  if 
Buch  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed  ;  and 
if  no  person  have  such  majority,  then  from  the  persons  having  the  highest 
numbers,  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as  President,  the 
House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  President. 
But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  states,  the  repre 
sentation  from  each  state  having  one  vote  ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  snail 
consist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  major 
ity  of  all  the  states  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  And  if  the  House  of  Rep 
resentatives  shall  not  choose  a  President  whenever  the  right  of  choice  shall 
devolve  upon  them,  before  the  fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the 
Vice  President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other  consti 
tutional  disability  of  the  President.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number 
of  votes  as  Vice  President,  shall  be  the  Vice  President,  if  such  number  be  a 
majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed,  and  if  no  person  have 
a  majority,  then  from  the  two  highest  number  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall 
choose  the  Vice  President ;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole  num 
ber  shall  be  necessarv  to  a  choice.  But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible 
to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice  President  of  the 
United  States. 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

TO—  ^      202  Main  Library 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

1  -month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling  642-3405 

6-month  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing  books  to  Circulation  Desk 

Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  due  date 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


ILI  rtV  /            j     ^i  \i"»j-x. 

NOV  4  iysu 

CIRCULATION  DEJ 

t\ 

ore  •  .  , 

rec'd  circ.  APR  2  0 

983 

APR  2  9  1984 

8EC.C1R.  WK25  ' 

H 

FEB26199 

i 

RECEWEl 

FEB  0  9  19! 

5 

CiRCULATiGixi 

U[_.:,T 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 

FORM  NO.  DD6,  60m,  3/80  BERKELEY,  CA  94720 

®$ 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


CDS13b7blS 


H27- 

.75 


22059 K 


I 


11 


